Shahid: Government Must Cut Political Appointees to Reduce Spending

Former President of the MDP, Abdulla Shahid, has called for a reduction in the hundreds and thousands of individuals appointed to high-level government positions if the administration is serious about cutting state expenditure.

Expressing concern over the dismissal of numerous MDP members from their jobs under the guise of government cost-cutting measures, Shahid stated in a post on X that the current administration has significantly neglected the Maldivian people.

Shahid has called for a freeze on the appointment of political staff to senior government positions as a measure to reduce state expenditure.

Under the guise of cost-cutting, state-owned enterprises are cruelly dismissing numerous employees affiliated with the MDP. This administration has proven itself to be both authoritarian and oppressive, having utterly failed the Maldivian people. If the government truly intends to reduce expenditures, it must halt the recruitment of individuals to high-level political positions. Instead of targeting ordinary workers, they should dismiss the hundreds, if not thousands, of ministers currently appointed to senior government posts.

Abdulla Shahid

Shahid stated that the government's true intention is to marginalize hardworking citizens by obstructing their professional growth and career advancement. He further called on the administration to cease these injustices against the people.

Shahid described the current administration as a cruel and autocratic government. He further pledged that a future MDP government would ensure just compensation for those being unfairly dismissed by the present administration.

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has alleged that the government is unfairly dismissing its members from state-owned enterprises under the guise of corporate "right-sizing."

Furthermore, a press release issued by the HA. Maarandhoo Island Council confirmed that 13 employees at the local Fenaka branch were dismissed on Thursday. This follows the termination of approximately 200 Fenaka staff members in Addu City within a single week. As these layoffs continue, many members of the public are calling on the government to prioritize cutting costs by removing individuals appointed to high-paying political positions rather than targeting general staff.