MDP urges gov’t to halt politically motivated actions through independent institutions
MDP accuses the current administration of misusing institutions like ACC to target political opponents
Scenes from the 'Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!' protest organized by MDP.
The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has called on the government to immediately cease what it describes as politically motivated actions being carried out through state independent institutions.
In a press release issued on Friday, MDP accused the current administration of misusing institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to target political figures under the guise of investigations. The party expressed concern that these actions represent a continuation of past political practices aimed at silencing dissent and intimidating opponents.
The statement highlighted that one of the key pledges of MDP’s 2018 administration was to rectify injustices suffered under previous governments, including politically motivated dismissals, unlawful contract terminations, and the forced closure of businesses. The party asserted that it pursued these cases through a fair and transparent process with the goal of minimizing the state’s financial liability, not favoring any particular party or individual.
ACC has recently summoned three senior figures from the second MDP administration, MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, National Congress Member Ibrahim Ameer, and former Education Minister Dr. Aishath Ali. According to MDP, these summonses are baseless and intended to serve a political agenda rather than uncover genuine misconduct.
The case under ACC investigation involves compensation claims related to the unlawful cancellation of contracts by the previous PPM-led government. Specifically, Swift Engineering Private Limited had agreements terminated without legal justification, leading the company to propose a resolution that would limit its compensation claims in exchange for the restoration of four of the six original projects.
MDP emphasized that the resolution of this case was managed through the Settlement Committee established during its government, and that the arrangement was not only lawful but fiscally responsible. The committee assessed claims individually, taking into account all circumstances to ensure fair outcomes that served the best interest of the state.
The party noted that even the owner of Swift Engineering, current MP Saudullah Hilmy, who is now aligned with the government, has publicly stated that the settlement benefited the state. This, MDP argued, further undermines the credibility of the current investigation.
MDP also reaffirmed its confidence that none of the individuals under investigation received any personal gain from the compensation settlements, characterizing ACC’s actions as deliberate political harassment.
The party believes these moves are part of a broader effort by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration to obstruct its upcoming mass gathering scheduled for November 17. It warned that the use of independent institutions as tools of political retaliation undermines public trust and further erodes democratic norms in the Maldives.
