People's Majlis approves Aslam's appointment

The People’s Majlis has approved Mohamed Aslam as the Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

While 65 lawmakers voted in favour of Aslam’s appointment at Tuesday’s sitting, a vote was taken on the president’s recent decision to reorganize the government and form the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. 66 MPs were in favour of this.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih appointed Aslam to the ministry on June 14. While it has to approved by the People’s Majlis first, as per Article 129 (d) of the Maldives Constitution which states that “the President shall submit to the People’s Majlis, within seven days of making appointments to the Cabinet the names of the appointees to the Cabinet for approval of the People’s Majlis”, the matter was reviewed by the government oversight committee.

Aslam’s appointment was followed by the decision to dissolve the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and shift its responsibilities under the Ministry of National Planning and Infrastructure, in turn merging both ministries and establishing the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

This decision was made after Aminath Athifa’s resignation as the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, who cited health issues as a reason for her resignation.

Aslam was already a serving cabinet member, as the Minister of National Planning and Infrastructure, prior to the recent reorganization of government.