Current administration's policy is to establish a system where all state revenue can be spent solely at the leader's discretion: Ali Hussain

Legal expert Ali Hussain has stated that the policy of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration is to dismantle productivity and establish a system where all state revenue can be spent at the sole discretion of the leader.

Speaking on RaajjeTV’s "Fala Surukhee" program, Ali Hussain stated that President Muizzu has lost his popularity within a short period of assuming office and no longer holds the public's support. He further noted that despite being two and a half years into the term, the administration has failed to implement effective policies or take any successful measures to increase the Maldives' national revenue.

Consequently, he stated that the current administration would remain unable to achieve success or bring about any meaningful progress for the people and the nation in the future.

People often say, for instance, that you cannot squeeze orange juice from an apple. Similarly, there is a saying that a banana shoot will never sprout from a taro plant. A taro plant will always be a taro plant; it simply cannot produce a banana shoot. Therefore, it will only yield what is inherently within it. After two and a half years, we now clearly see the true extent of this administration's capacity. This government has failed to implement a single measure to increase national revenue for the Maldives. Furthermore, we are witnessing extreme levels of waste. Corruption is rampant, and we see State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) brazenly engaging in excessive and unnecessary spending in broad daylight. Funds are being funneled under various pretexts to different news outlets and individuals. We see the creation of redundant jobs for people who are not needed, alongside unnecessary PR campaigns and marketing. For example, what possible marketing does MACL (Maldives Airports Company Limited) need to conduct? What choices are there to promote? Is there any other company in the Maldives competing with MACL? There is not.

Legal Counsel Ali Hussain

Noting that the public is well aware of the government's excessive spending, Ali Hussain stated that plans are in place to create 50,000 government jobs ahead of the 2028 presidential election. He further noted that such actions are stifling the nation's productivity.

Hiring individuals for positions where no actual work exists results in a dual loss for the nation. When a person is engaged in meaningful labor, they contribute directly to national productivity and the country's overall output. By placing them in redundant roles, the state not only loses that potential contribution but also begins paying salaries for non-existent work. Consequently, productive hands are being removed from the workforce. We are moving toward a system where anyone capable of working—specifically those who refrain from politically opposing Muizzu—is being absorbed into state-owned enterprises, government positions, or state-aligned media outlets. This creates a massive fiscal leakage where state revenue is drained into a system devoid of productivity, serving only to exhaust public funds.

Attorney Ali Hussain

Ali Hussain further stated that a system where the leader can spend state revenue at their own discretion is emerging because the country completely lacks a mechanism for accountability.

However, he noted that while the country has numerous independent institutions, it is now up to the citizens to step forward and secure genuine autonomy for these bodies.