MDP Chairman Fayyaz Ismail was summoned for questioning by the Anti-Corruption Commission. The former economic minister is accused of abusing authority as a member of a dispute resolution committee during the previous administration to provide an undue benefit to Swift Engineering under a settlement agreement. After emerging from the ACC office, Fayyaz dismissed the allegations as “completely baseless” and heavily criticised the watchdog's probe, which he said was based on incomplete documentation. Former finance minister Ibrahim Ameer was questioned by the ACC on Sunday, whilst former attorney general Ibrahim Riffath and former education minister Aishath Ali have both been summoned to the commission.
The World Health Organisation congratulated the Maldives on becoming the first country in the world to achieve “triple elimination” of mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B while maintaining the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.
Following his arrest for taking photographs during a counter-narcotics operation, MDP national council member Hussain Hassan was interrogated by the police. The former journalist denied obstructing police duties.
Kicking off a four-day tour of Shaviyani atoll, where he launched projects to build a fitness centre, a police station, a mosque, and council secretariat on his first stop in Noomara, President Muizzu pledged to develop medical testing capacity on all inhabited islands by the end of 2026. In Kan’ditheemu, he announced the expansion of the island health centre, laid the foundation stone for a Bank of Maldives branch, inaugurated a fitness centre and police station, and oversaw the signing of road construction and coastal protection projects. In Goidhoo, he pledged to build a health centre and to resume the stalled construction of eight classrooms.
During Muizzu’s visit to Bileiyfahi, work commenced on the reclamation of 36 hectares of land to develop an airport on the island after the Maldives Airports Company Ltd was contracted for the project, which is due to be completed in two and a half years. The president also attended groundbreaking ceremonies for a fitness centre, police station and new council secretariat.
MDP national council member Fathimath Zahiyya’s phone was released by police following the alleged leak of private videos while the phone was in police custody.
At the annual GM Forum of the Hotelier Maldives magazine, resort operators expressed concern over declining returns on investment and falling occupancy rates. According to Pulse Hotels CEO Mohamed Khaleel, more than 42 percent of beds in the industry remain unused. Investors also lack confidence in the judiciary with many cases stalled at court, he said. Others criticised the short notice for tax hikes and the unavailability of financing from local banks.
The public finance regulations were amended to allow the cabinet to approve single-source procurement for “projects that address people's basic needs, improve living standards” and “special projects for security services”.
Four members elected to represent the media on the new regulator were formally appointed to the Media and Broadcasting Commission. Ten individuals, including several former members of the dissolved Broadcasting Commission and Media Council, stood for the three other slots on the seven-member commission. The candidates will be vetted by a committee and selected by parliament.
Parliament approved the president's four nominees to the National Integrity Commission: Fathimath Shareef, Shifaz Ali, Shuaib Abdul Rahman, and Ali Mohamed Manik.
The ruling party's supermajority amended parliament's standing orders to require male MPs to wear ties during sittings. The new dress code was approved after opposition MDP MPs stopped wearing ties in protest against the failure of ministers to appear for questioning. According to the new rules, male members must dress in either a suit or shirt and trousers paired with a tie, or traditional attire. Female lawmakers must wear formal clothing in accordance with Maldivian social norms.
The homeland security ministry allowed cancelation of expatriate work permits if employers agree to pay outstanding fees and fines in instalments. The rules previously required any dues to be settled before cancelation.
A chapter on how parliament can call for public referendums was added to the standing orders, specifying the procedures for an MP or the speaker to file a motion, which must then be reviewed by a committee within 14 days and passed by a simple majority.
Two bills submitted by opposition MP Mohamed Ibrahim to mandate asset disclosure of senior members of independent institutions, statutory bodies, government offices and agencies and senior officials of state-owned companies were accepted for review.
