Politics

Gayoom moves to take control of PPM

Gayoom moved to take control of the PPM tonight after a complaint was filed with the party’s disciplinary committee urging action against two MPs, including son Faris, who did not vote for a controversial tourism bill.

Gayoom urges PPM MPs to vote against government tourism bill

In a message posted on the PPM MPs’ Viber group yesterday, the former president said authorising the government to lease islands for resort development without a bidding process is contrary to the party’s founding principles.

Majlis approves diplomatic postings to UN and Europe

The People’s Majlis approved today President Abdulla Yameen’s nominees for the new Maldivian permanent representative to the UN and non-resident ambassador to the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Supreme court upholds verdict against Maldives ex-president

The supreme court has upheld former President Mohamed Nasheed’s 13-year jail sentence on charges of terrorism.

Graft watchdog advises against awarding ‘mega projects’ without bidding

The anti-corruption watchdog has advised the government to reverse changes brought to the public finance regulations last year that allowed large-scale projects to be awarded without a competitive bidding process.

Critical news website closes citing unrelenting political pressure

CNM, a popular news website critical of the Maldives government, has been forced shut after it exposed the first lady’s misuse of state resources.

Yameen appoints third vice president, reshuffles cabinet

President Yameen reshuffled the cabinet today and appointed Finance Minister Abdulla Jihad as his third deputy in less than a year.

Home minister resigns

“Today I have decided to resign from my position as the Home Minister. I thank HEP Yamin and others for all their support,” Naseer said in a tweet moments ago.

President ‘halted’ central bank inquiry into money laundering

The opposition has renewed calls for Yameen’s arrest, claiming it has new evidence he instructed the central bank to halt an inquiry into the Maldives’ biggest ever corruption scandal.

MPs question government’s sincerity in tackling jihadi recruitment

Opposition leader to be investigated over arrest warrant for president

Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, the leader of the newly launched opposition coalition, is being investigated by the police on suspicion of links to a forged warrant for President Abdulla Yameen’s arrest.

Kenyan chief justice appointed Commonwealth special envoy to Maldives

Dr Willy Mutunga “will consult with all relevant stakeholders to encourage the strengthening of a pluralist, multi-party democracy, steps towards credible and inclusive presidential elections in 2018 and the advancement of reforms to give full effect to the separation of powers,” according to the Commonwealth.

Government unveils ‘zero tolerance’ counter-terrorism policy

The government has promised “swift measures” against Maldivians involved with terrorist organisations in a new state policy on combating terrorism and violent extremism. A seven-page policy paper made public on Thursday broadly outlined plans to improve security and conduct de-radicalisation and rehabilitation programmes.

PPM divisions reopen over Gayoom’s opposition to grant Yameen party ticket

MPs and members of the PPM have taken to social media calling for Yameen to be awarded the party ticket without a primary after local media claimed that former president and PPM leader Gayoom had refused to endorse his half-brother for the 2018 polls.

Saudis defend Maldives first lady over date controversy

The embassy of Saudi Arabia in Malé has spoken out in defence of the first lady of the Maldives, who has been accused of corruption when it emerged that an NGO she founded was distributing dates gifted by the kingdom in its name.

Home minister moves to halt production of historical documentary

The home ministry has ordered a southern island to halt production on a movie documenting the forced eviction of its residents in 1962 as collective punishment for a separatist movement.

First lady dubbed ‘date thief’

First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim has sparked a firestorm of criticism after it emerged that a charity organisation she founded was distributing packets of dates gifted by Saudi Arabia to the people of the Maldives in its name.

Executive facing corruption charges appointed as deputy minister

The Maldives Roads Development Corporation’s managing director has been transferred to a political post despite pending corruption charges over a MVR1 million (US$64,850) loss incurred by the state-owned company.

Opposition condemns ‘unfair, politically motivated trials’

The government has meanwhile asserted the independence of the judiciary and insisted that a bomb caused the September 28 blast on the president’s speedboat: “Any suggestion to the contrary is merely scurrilous, and an obvious attempt to besmirch both the judiciary and the government.”

Three Maldivians join extremist group in Syria

The news of the latest Maldivian recruits for jihad comes after President Abdulla Yameen submitted a policy paper on terrorism and violent extremism to the People’s Majlis, seeking the views of lawmakers on “further steps to be taken to address the issue.”