Each day Heena remains in position strengthens allegations that NSPA theft was ordered by pres.
President Muizzu stated that the story of NSPA's major corruption had not yet reached him. He did not even pretend to know that such a thing was happening.
Heena Waleed, Chief Spokesperson at the President's Office
The entire nation was stunned by the revelation that a group of individuals had used funds from the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) to establish a TV channel.
Who could have imagined that someone could betray a fund established in the name of the state to aid the poor and vulnerable?
Upon examining the details of the news, it became clear that senior officials from the President's Office were quite actively involved in the establishment of said TV station.
The TV station, named MMTV, appears to be a channel created to promote President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. The broadcasting license was issued to a company called Maldives Media House Private Limited. The company had leased four floors of M. Seeraazuge. Of these, two floors were sublet to NSPA, while the remaining two floors were used to operate the company's TV station. When this made the spotlight, the government declared that there was no connection between MMTV and President Muizzu. This was announced by the government's chief spokesperson, Heena Waleed, who is also the CEO of NSPA, the agency implicated in the allegations.
Although the government claimed there was no connection between MMTV and President Muizzu, it's clear that President Muizzu has a direct interest in Maldives Media House.
The parent company of MMTV was registered by Abdulla Zahir, native to Vashafaru island of Haa Alif atoll, who is a family member of President Muizzu who manages the president's personal residence. He is not someone who has previously worked in the media or operated a media business.
The five-year agreement between MMTV and NSPA for office space rental is worth a total of MVR 34.8 million, with a monthly rent of MVR 580,000.
When details of the transaction were exposed on social media, leading to criticism from the public and opposition political figures, NSPA cancelled the agreement.
By then, MVR 34.8 million had been issued from NSPA's funds. Even though the agreement was cancelled, it's not certain whether this money was returned to NSPA. NSPA has not disclosed whether they have recovered the money or not. They don't even talk about it.
No investigation has been initiated against anyone regarding the case. No action has been taken against anyone. Heena Waleed has not been removed or suspended from her position as CEO of NSPA either.
However, in connection with the next corruption scandal of the incumbent that came to light recently involving land theft, President Muizzu decided to suspend Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed, the Managing Director of Housing Development Corporation (HDC).
When Mohamed Nihad, State Minister at the Tourism Ministry, spoke at a gathering of the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) about an alleged terrorist attack planned by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on a tourist resort, President Muizzu decided to suspend him the next morning. It was a very swift action.
The case of the TV channel created with MVR 34.8 million from NSPA's fund, meant to aid the poor and vulnerable in the name of the state, is not being investigated the same way. No action was taken against anyone who was involved. No one was suspended.
President Muizzu stated that the story of NSPA's major corruption had not yet reached him. He did not even pretend to know that such a thing was happening.
Therefore, it is believed that what Heena Waleed did was done directly on President Muizzu's orders.
Every day that Heena remains in her position suggests that the NSPA theft was carried out on President Muizzu's orders.
