SOE employees being coerced into signing pro-government petition calling for passage of proposed amendments to Decentralization Act: Nasheed
20 އޯގަސްޓު 2026 | ބުރާސްފަތި 13:41Former President Mohamed Nasheed has alleged that employees of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are being intimidated and coerced into signing a government petition supporting proposed amendments to the Decentralization Act. Nasheed warned that such actions would misrepresent the true level of public support for the administration and ultimately prove detrimental to the government.
Employees of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are being coerced into signing a pro-government petition calling for the passage of proposed amendments to the Decentralization Act, President Nasheed has alleged. | MDP Secretariat
MDP Chairperson and former President Mohamed Nasheed has alleged that employees of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are being coerced into signing a petition supporting a bill to amend the Decentralization Act. The bill in question was sponsored and introduced by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru.
In a post on X on Thursday, former President Nasheed stated that employees of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are being coerced into signing a petition organized by individuals claiming to be government supporters. He further alleged that SOE staff stationed in the islands are being subjected to intimidation.
Nasheed stated that if signatures are obtained through intimidation to manufacture a show of public support, it will ultimately be detrimental to the government. He further noted that such practices would mislead the administration regarding its true level of public backing.
More than 2,140 people have signed an e-petition submitted to the People’s Majlis calling for the withdrawal of a proposed amendment to the Decentralization Act, which would allow the government to reclaim council-owned land based on Cabinet decisions. In response to this development, the Parliament has passed an amendment to its standing orders to allow the submission of multiple petitions regarding the same issue. Meanwhile, the government has launched its own petition in support of the bill and has begun gathering signatures.
