Shahid: MDP members are being dismissed under the guise of PCB to distribute jobs to PNC activists
Shahid called for an end to the marginalization of citizens during these challenging economic times, pledging that a future MDP government would ensure compensation for those who have been unfairly dismissed from their jobs.
Shahid speaks at an MDP press conference. | MDP Secretariat
Former Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has stated that the current administration is using the Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) as a shield to dismiss general members of the MDP from their jobs, solely to distribute those positions among PNC activists.
In a post shared on social media, Shahid stated that the government is hiding behind the Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) to carry out the indiscriminate dismissal of MDP members and reform-minded citizens from their jobs. Shahid further asserted that the government is taking these actions with the deceptive intent of securing its hold on power by distributing those employment opportunities to PNC activists.
Shahid’s remarks come in the wake of a circular issued by the Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) on April 18, which directed state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to reduce their workforce by 33 percent. Furthermore, major state companies, including the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and Fenaka Corporation, have introduced voluntary redundancy schemes, offering employees four months' salary as compensation for resigning. According to the PCB, these measures are being implemented as part of the government's broader policy to reduce public expenditure.
This is a cruel atrocity being committed at a time of economic decline and skyrocketing dollar rates, leaving countless citizens destitute and devastating families. I call upon the government to immediately halt these actions, eliminate the wasteful expenditure on political appointments and systemic corruption, and ensure job security for the people to alleviate their fears of unemployment.Abdulla Shahid
Reaffirming that the MDP will remain steadfast in protecting every citizen facing injustice from the current administration, Shahid further pledged that the party would ensure compensation for such individuals during its next term in government.
While the current administration continues to terminate ordinary employees at state-owned enterprises and marginalize families under the guise of cost-cutting, the number of political appointees continues to rise. This trend has drawn widespread public criticism toward President Muizzu and his government. Although President Muizzu assumed office with a pledge to limit political appointments to no more than 700, over 2,000 individuals have been appointed to political positions within the past two and a half years.
