MDP protests inside ACC, calls for President Shamil’s resignation

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has staged a protest within the premises of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), calling for the resignation of the commission's president, Adam Shamil.

Senior officials and members of the MDP gathered at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) around 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday to stage a protest. During the demonstration, they called for the immediate resignation of the Commission's President, Adam Shamil.

The MDP has stated that the government is openly distributing bribes in connection with the Local Council Elections, the Women's Development Committee elections, and the referendum scheduled for April 4th.

Specifically, the MDP stated that salary increments, promotions, job distributions, and the reduction of rent for housing projects are being carried out in direct connection to the elections. The party further expressed grave concern that while bribery is being conducted openly, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) remains in a state of "coma."

Noting that numerous election-related complaints have been submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to date, MDP National Congress member Abdulla Rasheed Hassan stated that none of these issues have received a response. He further emphasized that even in the absence of formal complaints, the ACC has a responsibility to investigate allegations of government corruption linked to the elections.

However, this entire institution and its leadership remain under the direct control of President Muizzu. The head of this body is an appointee of the President. Consequently, no investigations are being conducted here, and all progress has come to a complete standstill.

Abdulla Rasheed Hassan, a member of the MDP National Congress.

Furthermore, the MDP expressed concern, stating that the current administration has stripped away the fundamental characteristics of a functional state.

The MDP stated that there would be no need to protest at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) today if the country's independent institutions were functioning autonomously. The party further emphasized the importance of rejecting the current administration in the elections scheduled for the 4th of this month, asserting that the nation will head in a positive direction if the government is defeated in this referendum.