The People’s Majlis has endorsed all 15 of President Abdulla Yameen’s cabinet ministers.
Ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM), coalition partners Jumhooree Party (JP) and Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) as well as six members of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) voted to approve ministerial nominees.
The ministers were endorsed despite the Majlis’ Executive Oversight Committee’s decision to reject eight out of the 15 cabinet ministers on Saturday. The opposition majority committee said the eight were “ministers of the coup government” established after the controversial transfer of power in February 2012.
The MDP enforced a three line whip in rejecting the eight ministers, but had a free whip on voting for the remaining seven.
The six MDP parliamentarians who breached the three line whip are Abdulla Jabir, Zahir Adam, Ahmed Rasheed, Mohamed Rasheed, Abdulla Abdul Raheem and Ahmed Easa.
Two MDP parliamentarians – Ali Waheed and Alhan Fahmy – voted against all fifteen ministers.
Endorsement
During Monday’s vote, 73 out of 77 parliamentarians were in attendance.
Among the 15 cabinet members, Attorney General Mohamed Anil, Minister of Economic Development Mohamed Saeed and Minister of Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim received the highest number of votes in endorsement, with each minister receiving 64 votes.
Minister of Education Aishath Shiham and Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Mohamed Shainee received 63 votes each.
Minister of Youth and Sports Mohamed Maleeh Jamal received 58 votes, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dunya Maumoon received 55 votes.
Minister of Tourism Ahmed Adeeb received 45 votes, with Minister of Defence and National Security Mohamed Nazim, Minister of Transport and Communication Ameen Ibrahim and Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Mohamed Muizzu each receiving 44 votes.
Minister of Finance and Treasury Abdulla Jihad, Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Minister of Health and Gender Aishath Shiham received 43 votes each.
Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer got endorsed with the least number of votes, receiving only 41 in favour from a total of 73.
Pre-vote Debate
The Speaker allowed one member from each party to speak on the parliament floor about the report prepared by the Executive Oversight Committee.
Progressive Party of Maldives MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla called on the parliament to endorse all members, specifically calling on opposition members to follow “the courageous example set by [MDP] Presidential Candidate Nasheed. He said that Yameen’s cabinet is compiled of the most capable selection of ministers that the country has seen to date.”
Jumhooree Party (JP) MP Ilham Ahmed stated that the constitution demands that all ministers be endorsed. “There will be no reasons for regret by endorsing this cabinet. In any case, if there arises a need, the parliament has a mechanism through which we can hold ministers accountable. Jumhooree Party will not shy away from taking action against any cabinet member, whichever party he may come from, should he do something that may cause a loss to citizens,” he stated.
Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) MP Ahmed Amir stated that “it is unacceptable to not be able to endorse ministers without appeasing a particular individual”, and alleged that the Government Oversight Committee had not acted justly in reviewing the cabinet appointees.
Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) member Riyaz Rasheed added that there is no appointee against whom questions of capability can be raised. He added that the parliament should not set any conditions when voting to endorse ministers.
Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Mohamed ‘Colonel’ Nasheed said that the party will endorse members as appointing ministers is the mandate of the President. He added that the party would employ a moderate approach in holding the government accountable.
Independent MP Ibrahim Muhtholib stated that all 15 ministers met the qualifications required in a cabinet appointee. He alleged that the committee had failed to present sufficient reasoning for their refusal to endorse over half of the cabinet.
Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik stated that the party’s members would vote to endorse those they saw fit, and not the rest.
“There needs to be an opposition that holds the government accountable, and today that role is ours. We are a responsible party and we will do what it takes to hold the government accountable, even if it means bringing citizens out on to the streets [to hold demonstrations],” he stated.
“MDP stands strictly against coup d’etats. And even if a baaghee [traitor] changes their clothes and comes infront of us, we can see that they still have the characteristics of a baaghee.”
Background
The Executive Oversight Committee – compiled of a majority of 6 MDP members from a total of 10 – previously decided to reject endorsement of eight ministers.
The committee rejected endorsement of Nazim, Adheeb, Shaheem, Shakeela, Ameen, Jihad and Muizzu on the grounds that they were “coup ministers” as they had served in the previous Waheed administration.
The committee also rejected Home Minister Umar Naseer saying that various speeches given by him at political rallies made it “evident that he will not be loyal to Yameen”.
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Operation "Gas out the rats" was successful. My thanks to the vermin who have exposed themselves.
Backbone Umar home affairs?!Baghees may owe him for running things from the command center and for the complicated maths with ladders and how many untrained ppl could take on the defense building back in 2012 but Hellooo that was so (almost) 2 yrs ago. His type of bagheeness surely have gone out of fashion. The same for Shaheem -Outdated version of the Islamist. Is there no hope for this to be anything more than a reign of stupidity then? Terror no longer on your agenda Yan? Or is it going to be terror through financial weakness and poverty? It is weakness and poverty if you don't have enough to make do, and if you have to create (on in fantasy for now) money to meet your needs.
common let go Nasheed is his ego and get alone with your daily life.
This country is not a property of Kenerege Nasheed.
We need to find a good leader from MDP who can drive the party and act responsibly as opposition party.
Nasheed is a dictator and he does not want any one to come out and then lead the party and he is a virus .
Another failing by the MDP leadership. What’s the purpose of a three-line whip if members cross it as if it’s a piece of candy? Ibrahim Solih, as the head of parliamentary group, should take responsibility and resign. It’s time we put some accountability to MDP leadership and this goes to Nasheed as well. It’s painful to watch them fall over and over again. In the meantime, the government/Maumoon is taking advantage and putting Bagee’s (including daughters) to ministerial jobs. It’s time we entrust the party in the hand of an experienced politician, such as Abdullah Shahid, at least until the ship steadies and gets some direction.