Ministers must remain accountable regardless of which Maldivian dialect is used to address them: Shahid
Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) President Abdulla Shahid has criticized the Health Minister for refusing to answer a parliamentary question posed in the Addu dialect, citing a lack of understanding. Shahid asserted that government officials are obligated to remain accountable to the public regardless of the local dialect used, emphasizing that mocking linguistic variations is unacceptable. The controversy arose during a parliamentary session when the Minister declined to respond to inquiries regarding Addu Equatorial Hospital’s services, which were raised by the Member of Parliament for Hithadhoo North in the representative's native dialect.
MDP President Abdulla Shahid speaks at an MDP event. | Raajje MV
Abdulla Shahid, President of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has asserted that heads of government institutions must remain accountable to the public, regardless of which Maldivian dialect is used to address them.
Shahid made these remarks following an incident where Health Minister Geela Ali declined to answer a question from Abdulla Sodiq, the Member of Parliament for Hithadhoo North. The Minister stated she was unable to respond because she did not understand the Addu dialect in which the question was posed.
In a social media post, Shahid asserted that the Addu dialect is an integral part of the Dhivehi language. He emphasized that heads of government institutions must remain accountable, regardless of their island of origin or the specific Dhivehi dialect used to address them.
Shahid characterized the response given to a Member of Parliament who questioned in the Addu dialect as an act of ridicule directed at the member and an insult to all residents of Addu. He further called upon senior government officials to refrain from such conduct.
The issue came to light when Abdulla Sodiq, the Member of Parliament for the Hithadhoo North constituency, posed a question to the Health Minister in the Addu dialect. Sodiq inquired about the solutions for the ongoing shortage of medication and injections for mental health patients at Addu Equatorial Hospital (AEH), and sought clarification on the Ministry's efforts to ensure a consistent supply of medicine at the facility. Furthermore, the MP questioned the Minister regarding the anticipated commencement date for the construction of the new AEH building.
We have received numerous complaints regarding the shortage of medication and injections for mental health patients at Addu Equatorial Hospital (AEH). What is the solution to this issue? What steps is the Ministry taking in coordination with the hospital to ensure the consistent availability of these essential medical supplies? Secondly, AEH is currently facing significant space constraints. Could you provide a timeline for when the construction of the new hospital building is expected to commence? Thank you.The question posed by the Member of Parliament for the Hithadhoo North constituency, Abdulla Sodiq (Sobe), to Minister Geela.
However, the Minister stated that he did not understand the question posed in the Addu dialect, noting that as he is not from Addu, he is unfamiliar with the local tongue. This response has drawn significant public criticism. Nevertheless, while responding to one of the questions posed by Sobe, the Minister confirmed that work on the Addu Equatorial Hospital (AEH) is scheduled to commence this August.
The government has faced widespread criticism over this issue. Many have highlighted the importance of respecting linguistic diversity, particularly as the People’s Majlis is an institution where the voices of citizens from all constituencies must be heard.
