In an apparent punishment for breaking ranks, MP Ahmed Azaan Marzooq was ousted on Monday from key oversight committees for public accounts and security services.

Azaan was the only dissenter when the ruling People’s National Congress supermajority controversially downsized the Supreme Court bench last week. After walking out before the vote in defiance of the whipline, the MP for Central Hithadhoo called the move “unconstitutional.”

Following the withdrawal of his committee assignments, Azaan told the media that he was removed to halt probes into corrupt procurement practices at state-owned companies, including an ongoing review of MVR 65 million (US$ 4.2 million) spent on rentals last year by the Waste Management Corporation.

"When we start looking into these matters, there is pressure from various quarters, particularly those who benefit from these transactions," he told Dhauru.

He told Adhadhu that the corruption cases under investigation involve “the interests of some powerful individuals” who exerted influence. 

But Majority Leader Ibrahim Falah denied any political motivation, suggesting that it was “just part of the normal routine of changing committees.”

The public accounts committee and the security services committee – known as the 241 committee after the article of the constitution that mandates its formation with representation of all political parties to “exercise continuing oversight of the operations of the security services” – play critical roles with access to sensitive information about government finances and national security.

Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla announced the reshuffle at the beginning of Monday’s 30-minute sitting of parliament. Azaan was reassigned to the petitions committee and ethics committee. He was replaced by Henveiru North MP Ahmed Aifan and Vilimale MP Mohamed Ismail, respectively, on the PAC and 241 committee.