Ziyad: Giving Ihsan Data Protection Oversight Is Like Putting Dracula in Charge of a Blood Bank
During the debate on the Personal Data Protection Bill, Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyad alleged that citizens' private information has been misused to fraudulently register individuals into political parties. He expressed grave concerns over entrusting Home Minister Ali Ihusaan with the enforcement of such critical legislation, likening the move to "handing over a blood bank to Dracula." Ziyad further emphasized that regardless of the laws enacted, the original purpose of the legislation will remain unfulfilled if the officials responsible for its implementation lack public trust.
Hussain Ziyad, Member of Parliament for the Vaikaradhoo constituency. | People's Majlis
Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyad has likened the decision to entrust Home Minister Ali Ihusan with the enforcement of the Personal Data Protection Bill to "handing over a blood bank to Dracula."
During Monday's Parliament sitting, debate continued on the Personal Data Protection Bill, submitted on behalf of the government by Ali Ibrahim, the Member for West Henveiru. While contributing to the debate, MP Ziyad stated that Parliament’s core responsibilities are twofold. He noted that these primary functions consist of the legislative process and ensuring the oversight of law enforcement and compliance.
Ziyad stated that one of his primary concerns lies with those responsible for law enforcement. He specifically highlighted that, when discussing legislation as critical as the personal data protection bill, the presence of Ihusaan as Home Minister remains a significant point of concern.
However, it is deeply concerning that the responsibility for enforcing this law has been entrusted to the current Minister of Home Affairs, Ihusan. In my own island of Vaikaradhoo, approximately 400 people were registered to the PNC using their personal data without consent. The Minister has even stood here and admitted to this. This is the individual tasked with upholding such a law. The residents of Vaikaradhoo were registered to the PNC en masse by exploiting their personal information. While they may deny it today because they hold power, this is the reality, and the people of that island know it. Even those bedridden were registered using their private data. I was among them, and even a High Court judge serving at the time was registered in this manner.Hussain Ziyad, Member of Parliament for the Vaikaradhoo constituency.
The member stated that if those responsible for enforcement are in such a state after a law is enacted and assigned to them, it raises serious questions about how implementation can be achieved. Ziyad noted that the Maldives likely has one of the highest numbers of laws relative to its size. He remarked that if laws were to be sold at market value, Maldivian laws would fetch the highest price because they remain virtually untouched. The member added that unused items often command a premium price.
Ziyad stated that laws remain ineffective because individuals like Minister Ihsan hold such positions. The member specifically remarked that entrusting Home Minister Ali Ihsan with the enforcement of the Personal Data Protection Bill is akin to putting Dracula in charge of a blood bank.
