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Muizzu fields questions during epic 15-hour press conference, after 500 days of silence

Key takeaways from the Press Freedom Day marathon

Artwork: Dosain

Artwork: Dosain

04 May, 6:34 PM

Ahmed Naish

Meeting the press for the first time in more than 500 days, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday sparred with journalists and defended his track record during a marathon press conference that lasted a whopping 15 hours.
Beginning at 10am with a two-hour presentation on development projects and progress made on delivering 2,129 manifesto pledges, the 46 year-old continued taking questions until 12:55am with short breaks for three prayer times. It was a “new world record for a president,” AFP reported, citing the President’s Office.
Muizzu nonetheless evaded several questions by pleading ignorance, promising to share information later and denying any knowledge of several corruption scandals. Pressed repeatedly, he also declined to disclose the number of government political appointees and refused to acknowledge reneging on a campaign pledge to limit political staff to no more than 700. 
There are no “useless” appointees, he insisted, all of whom are needed. An appraisal system has been introduced to evaluate performance every three months, he added. 
The government spends MVR 32 million (US$ 2 million) a month to pay salaries for political appointees, which amounts to three percent of the public sector wage bill, he said. 
Muizzu flatly denied interfering with the judiciary. The suspension of three Supreme Court justices – which effectively derailed a constitutional challenge to anti-defection rules that empowered parties to unseat lawmakers at will – three days after the replacement of the president’s representative on the 10-member judicial watchdog was a “coincidence,” he insisted. 
“I didn’t know in advance that something like that was going to happen. How would I have known? I didn’t think like that when making the change. I just implemented a decision that had been made at the time to replace the member,” Muizzu said.
Yazmeed Mohamed, an accountant and former ruling party candidate for parliament, replaced lawyer Mohamed Sameer on the Judicial Service Commission on February 23. He went on to chair a JSC investigation committee that probed alleged ethical misconduct by Justice Dr Azmiralda Zahir and Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir. 
The Maldives Independent watched all 15 hours so our readers don't have to. Here are some of key claims made:

“Issues of concern” in bilateral agreements signed by the previous administration have been addressed. The agreements cannot be made public due to confidentiality clauses but talks are underway to seek approval for disclosure.

Constitutional amendments to be proposed this year, some of which would require assent through a public referendum, include a mechanism to recall MPs, the abolition of atoll councils, concurrent presidential and parliamentary elections, and the introduction of preferential or ranked choice voting to avoid a second round or run-off presidential election.

A new law will be proposed to cap the number of political appointees. 

Agreements with foreign contractors that offered land in exchange for carrying out reclamation projects have been cancelled. Efforts are underway to seek new contractors to complete the stalled reclamation of the Giraavaru, Uthuru Thila and Fushidhiggaru lagoons. 

Plans to target subsidies and streamline pension and health insurance payments have been scrapped in favour of cost reductions through state-owned enterprises carrying out projects at cost. Along with bulk purchases of construction material through STO, the savings are estimated to be the same as the previously envisioned welfare reforms. 

Outstanding payments of MVR 2 billion still owed to private businesses after MVR 7 billion worth of dues was settled last year. 

The main objective of digitising government services with assistance from Estonia is to “eradicate corruption.”

No missiles have been purchased from Türkiye.

There are no business relations with any Turkish businessmen. A Turkish man who attended the November 2023 swearing-in ceremony was a personal friend met during an official visit to Istanbul as an Adhaalath Party representative to attend a ruling party conference.

No questions over integrity of Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan, despite alleged misuse of the national identity card database to boost the ruling party’s membership.

No truth to claims by detained former immigration chief Shamaan Waheed’s family about Ihusan framing him to cover up corruption.

No truth to alleged outsized influence of brother-in-law Atheeq Rahman in the police.

No truth to alleged links to MMTV and deal to acquire Mihaaru newspaper.

Al Jazeera’s Sami Zeidan, who interviewed President-elect Muizzu in October 2023, provided consultancy services to help prepare for an address to the UN General Assembly last year. The Al Jazeera English presenter reportedly provided training to foreign ministry staff during one of several visits to the Maldives. 

Daud Ahmed Zilal, the brother of Raudh Ahmed Zilal, who is under arrest over suspected involvement in a young woman’s unexplained ninth-storey fall, was sacked as President’s Office undersecretary for digital strategy, over leaked photos of alcohol use on social media.

Daud was also asked to resign as president of the Youth Advisory Board after confessing to drinking during his college days in Malaysia.  

Former Police Commissioner Ali Shujau resigned of his own volition, rather than pressure from protesters.

No coalition agreement with ‘Sun’ resorts owner Ahmed Siyam Mohamed’s Maldives Development Alliance. The ruling People’s National Congress is the only party in government. 

A project will be carried out to increase electricity capacity in Addu and Fuvahmulah enough to meet demand for the next 10 years. 

The final list of social housing recipients will properly address complaints. 

Of 116 visits to Aarah, 85 were made for thrice-weekly football matches with friends on the presidential retreat island’s futsal pitch as a form of exercise. Other trips were made with family. The total fuel cost (including two security speedboats) was MVR 844,635 (US$55,000).

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