Public will face severe hardships over the next two months due to President Muizzu's policies: Amru
Amru warned that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is exacerbating economic challenges, predicting that citizens will face significant hardships over the next two months due to rising commodity prices and a worsening dollar shortage. He urged the government to implement stringent austerity measures, such as closing overseas embassies, noting that current policies are steering the national economy toward a dangerous trajectory. Amru emphasized the urgent need to curb the wasteful expenditure of foreign currency and reduce spending that exceeds the state's revenue.
President Muizzu speaks during a press conference held at the President's Office on Monday. | President's Office | president office
Former Managing Director of STO, Hussain Amru, has stated that the public will face significant hardships over the next two months due to the policies of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
Speaking on RaajjeTV’s "Fala Suruhee" program, Amru stated that the current administration has failed to implement effective measures to reduce expenditure amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. He warned that Maldivian citizens are likely to face significant hardships over the next two months.
He noted that commodity prices continue to rise, highlighting that a kilogram of chicken, which previously cost between 35 and 45 Rufiyaa, is now priced at over 75 Rufiyaa.
Furthermore, Amru stated that while tourism is the primary source of foreign currency for the Maldives, the ongoing war has hindered the influx of dollars. He warned that the adverse effects of this situation would be felt across the entire nation.
In the Maldives, everything revolves around the dollar. Whether it is the goods we purchase or the items we import—even our basic food staples like rice, sugar, and flour—everything must be paid for in dollars. We are constantly told that these dollars are unavailable. Therefore, shouldn't our priority be to find ways to generate dollars or, at the very least, drastically reduce wasteful spending? Instead of cutting the Disability Management Allowance at this time, shouldn't we be closing down all these overseas embassies? What purpose do they serve? Each of these embassies is staffed by 70 to 100 people. We are spending our precious dollars to pay for their salaries, their families' expenses, and their children's schooling.Hussain Amru, former Managing Director of STO
Amru stated that the economy will not recover under the current administration's policies, adding that these measures are causing significant hardship for the public.
Amru noted that while fuel was secured today under a specific agreement, there are serious concerns regarding how fuel invoices will be settled in the coming days. He highlighted that the public's income and dollar earnings are currently declining, even as the cost of living continues to rise. Furthermore, he pointed out that while the influx of foreign currency into the Maldives is decreasing, the country's dollar expenditure is simultaneously on the rise.
Consequently, he stated that the Maldives is heading toward a highly precarious situation.
