Current Administration Lacks Any Intention to Facilitate Public Services: Falah

Former Member of Parliament for West Maafannu constituency, Mohamed Falah, has stated that the current administration lacks any genuine intention to facilitate ease for the public, nor does it have any vision to alleviate the hardships faced by citizens.

Speaking on RaajjeTV’s "Fala Surukhee" program, Falah stated that the Economic Minister’s recent remarks to the press highlight the President's commitment to ensuring the basic food security of the people. He explained that the government’s decision to import 26 additional essential items, similar to the existing staple food supply system, was made with this objective in mind. Falah clarified that the government is not engaging in these activities for commercial profit. Instead, he emphasized that it is the administration's responsibility to ensure that essential services and basic necessities remain accessible to all citizens.

He stated that the government is constitutionally mandated to provide essential services, such as electricity, water, and sewerage, to the citizens of the Maldives to the best of its capabilities. Falah noted that current observations show sewage leaking from island sanitation systems, warning that such leaks contaminate the local groundwater lens. He further cautioned that while this could lead to the spread of diseases, the government remains indifferent to the issue.

Since this administration took office, the residents of Addu City have been enduring immense hardship. Power outages occur every other day, with electricity being cut for three or four days a week, yet no solution has been found. This demonstrates that the current government lacks the competence to manage such issues. Despite having large ministries, numerous managing directors, and massive state-owned enterprises, their primary focus appears to be siphoning funds from these companies for their political campaigns. We see no evidence of them doing anything else. Even with entities like STELCO and Fenaka, and the vast number of employees hired—including those recruited from Addu to manage water and sewerage issues—no progress is being made. This failure stems from both a lack of expertise and a lack of will. Instead of addressing public needs, their actions are driven solely by the desire to achieve political objectives and secure personal gains.

Mohamed Falah, the former Member of Parliament for West Maafannu constituency.

Falah stated that the government lacks a genuine desire to deliver results, focusing instead on achieving specific political objectives for their own gain. He noted that as elections approach, the government tends to ramp up activities, hiring new staff and making grand promises of rapid progress. However, Falah pointed out that once the election concludes, all such efforts typically grind to a halt.

Falah stated that the shortage of essential medicines is not merely a national issue, but a major national disaster. He recalled that during the presidential campaign, the current President visited various islands and asserted that he was seeking office because he knew how to resolve such challenges. Falah further noted that while the administration had pledged to import high-quality pharmaceuticals from Europe, they are currently struggling to procure even basic medicines from India.

Therefore, the capacity to import medicine from Europe already exists within Maldivian companies. Under previous administrations, STO successfully imported pharmaceuticals to the Maldives. Why can it not be done now? It is simply due to a lack of management and competence. Consequently, the only option remaining for the Maldivian people is to change the current government. We must now consider taking to the streets to bring about this change. We cannot afford to remain idle spectators. Let us reflect on what our situation will be by the end of these remaining two and a half years. The failure to import medicine has escalated into a major crisis, and the citizens are beginning to suffer the consequences. STO has failed to deliver, and private individuals are not being given the opportunity to import these supplies. They have not been able to bring in the necessary medicine because the exclusive authority to import all pharmaceuticals remains vested in STO.

Mohamed Falah, the former Member of Parliament for West Maafannu constituency.

Falah stated that this is not how a nation should be governed. He remarked that while ministries could hold press conferences every other day, such actions would not improve the situation for the Maldivian people. Furthermore, he noted that the situation continues to deteriorate daily, adding that while anyone can deliver eloquent speeches, it does not change the reality on the ground.