Month: February 2011

Maldives first national university inaugrated

President Mohamed Nasheed this morning inaugurated the Maldives National University and appointed former education minster Dr Mustafa Luthfy as the university’s first chancellor, presenting him with the institution’s seal.

Acting Vice Chancellor Hassan Hameed will remain in the post until the university appoints a new Vice Chancellor.

During his speech at the inauguration ceremony, President Nasheed said it was necessary to appoint “a steady person to hold the rudder of the university.”

“He has to be a person who understands the changes occurring in the nation and society,” Nasheed said.

The President noted that both the right to education and freedom of expression were part of democracy and that the university would uphold these ideals.

”This university will play an important role in transferring democracy to our children, and our children’s children,” Nasheed said.

Dr Mustafa Luthfy said he hoped the national university would one day become “the Oxford” of the Maldives, and thanked the commitment of those who helped achieve the significant national milestone.

The new university represents the evolution of the existing Maldives College of Higher Education (MCHE).

Speaking later to Minivan News, Dr Luthfy explained that MCHE had managed to meet the conditions required to establish a fully fledged university; not least in the requirement of ensuring a certain percentage of staff hold PhDs and Masters degrees.

“That was not easy to achieve,” he said. “In the past the government has provided a loan facility to train staff.”

MCHE was already running degree programs and was particularly strong in teacher education, he explained – Luthfy himself started his career as a teacher and was the head of the early teacher training institute. By achieving university status, Luthfy believes that the Maldives will now be able to better establish relationships with regional and international universities and cooperate with regard to the exchange of knowledge and experience.

“The Vice President noted key areas where the Maldives had a comparative advantage,” Luthfy said, suggesting the Maldives could develop subjects such as marine and environmental science, Islamic studies, tourism and hospitality, as well as democracy and development.

University status also opened up the Maldives to competition, he noted.

“Nationally we have to improve the quality of education to compete with the education provided at other national institutions,” he explained. “The Maldives is now an open society, and there is a lot of interest among international universities to come here and promote their courses. We will have to compete with them.”

A major challenge, he said, was ensuring a steady intake of undergraduates from the schooling system.

“Maldivians love education, and certainly spend a lot on it. The problem is that the quality of the school education is not high – it’s only recently that we achieved a 35 percent pass rate at O’level,” he said.

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Second ACC corruption case to launch this week against GMR bribe allegations, says Umar Naseer

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is said to be investigating allegations that Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali and Speaker of Parliament Abdulla Shahid may have accepted bribes from the Indian infrastructure company, GMR.

Umar Naseer, a former deputy leader of the DRP until he was dismissed by a disciplinary commission back in December, has confirmed to the press that the ACC had written to him to confirm an investigation into GMR’s deal to manage and redevelop Male’ International Airport had begun.

The investigation will be the second case to be launched this week concerning major deals involving prominent parliamentarians.

Accusations first surfaced last November that Thasmeen and Shahid had each received payments of US$1 million that were claimed to have been supplied by GMR in order for the politicians to try and stall parliament sittings and cross party opposition of its airport plans.

Although unavailable for comment at the time of going to press, both Thasmeen and GMR have previously dismissed the allegations; with the DRP leader saying that the claims – initially appearing on the Dhivehi Post website – were politically motivated and a “fabrication”.

The ACC did not respond to Minivan News when contacted to confirm it had officially opened its second major investigation this week.

However, Umar Naseer said that he was able to supply documentary proof that Thasmeen, Shahid and GMR were being reviewed concerning allegations of corruption. Naseer was also unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.

In late January, the ACC ordered a halt on another government contract, between the Department of Immigration and Malaysian mobile security firm Nexbis, claiming that there were instances where corruption may have occurred.

Facing political pressure ahead of the local council elections, President Mohamed Nasheed upheld the ACC’s request that the roll-out of the technology be postponed.

Nexbis responded that it would be taking legal action against parties in the Maldives, claiming that speculation over corruption was “politically motivated” in nature and had “wrought irreparable damage to Nexbis’ reputation and brand name.”

The week has also seen the ACC ordering Thilafushi Corporation Limited (TCL) to halt the dredging of Thilafushi lagoon, because of issues that “could lead” to corruption in its contract with Heavy Load Maldives.

Heavy Load was awarded the US$21 million project on September 30 last year, and inaugurated the project on February 4.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also expressed concern over the project, which it claimed had “started work” prior to being issued an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Heavy Load is a family business interest of ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik, the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s parliamentary group leader.

Speaking from Colombo, Moosa told Minivan News on Sunday (February 13) that Heavy Load had spent 2-3 months mobilising resources for the project. The February 4 inauguration attended by President Mohamed Nasheed was symbolic, and did not necessarily mean the company had started dredging work, he said.

As for the ACC’s allegations it was, he said, “not a coincidence” that the announcement had been made a day after allegations broke in the Indian press that People’s Alliance (PA) leader Abdulla Yameen – also former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s half-brother – sold blackmarket oil to the Burmese miliary junta.

“There is a part of the ACC that is not free and fair,” Moosa said, alleging that the commission was subject to misuse for political purposes.
“PA’s Deputy Leader [Ahmed] Nazim is very close with one of the commission members, [Abdulla] Hilmy, which needs closer investigation,” Moosa said.

Despite the nature of the corruption allegations and the ACC alleged concerns over GMR, the infrastructure group took control of the airport in late November. The company claims that it hopes to begin redeveloping the existing airport structure during an initial 180 day period ahead of operating and that it had been completely open in all matters regarding its deal for the airport project.

Andrew Harrison, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GMR Male’ International Airport, told Minivan News late last year that any meetings held during consultations, particularly those involving government figures, had been advertised and open to the public.

“We go to public meetings, and we have other stakeholders present in these meetings. So for us, there is no question of anything occurring that would be shrouded in secrecy, or not known to the public,” he said.

“Certainly I can tell you I have no knowledge of anything like that taking place. This seems to be something going on between people outside of GMR, although somehow we have appeared in the frame.”

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Oil price spike raises cost of ice

Ice blocks have risen Rf 50 per tonne on the back of rising diesel prices, Koodoo Fisheries has announced.

The move comes after the State Trading Organisation (STO) increased the price of diesel by Rf 0.55 to Rf 11 a litre. Ice blocks will now sell for Rf 650 a tonne.

Ready access to ice is vital for Maldivian fishermen to preserve their catches and obtain a premium price in key international markets, such as the UK.

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UK man released after bomb scare questioning

Police have released a 60 year old British man who sparked a bomb scare on a Sri Lankan Airlines flight yesterday.

The man had been misunderstood by cabin crew after alerting them to a “disturbance in the plane”, police said.

“It was a case of miscommunication between the elderly British passenger and the airline crew,” Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam told AFP.

The flight from Colombo to London was temporarily grounded and passengers evacuated while the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) searched through passengers luggage, before giving the all clear for the flight to depart.

No other flights were disrupted, airport authorities stated.

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Chika “not a bad person” says DPRS Director Rasheed, following parole announcement

The infamous Ibrahim ‘Chika’ Nafiz has been released from prison under parole.

Nafiz was sentenced to five years imprisonment after he was found guilty of possessing an illegal sword in July 2008.

Director General of the Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Service (DPRS) Mohamed Rasheed confirmed to Minivan News that Chika was released yesterday afternoon.

”He is released under the same obligations as others who are released on parole,” said Rasheed. ”There are people who have to report to DPRS weekly, and have to give urine samples weekly.”

Rasheed said he regretted that the media was reporting Chika “as a bad person.”

”He is a good person, he was very good during his time in prison,” Rasheed said. ”And nobody should be worrying about it, because it was an opportunity for him to be good. If everyone says he is a bad person he might just not be able to use this opportunity, so just give him a chance.”

”He is not a threat to the society,” he added.

Rasheed referred to the life of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) and Abu Sufiyan.

”Abu Sufiyan was a great enemy of the Muslims before he became a Muslim, but later he was one of the heroes and brought victory to the Muslims,” he said.

He added that Nafiz was released because he was eligible for the parole.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said he did not wish to comment on the issue.

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Malaysia arrests 96 Muslims in Valentines Day crackdown

Malaysian authorities have arrested 96 Muslims in a Valentines Day crackdown on “vice activities”, reports Agence France-Presse.

The couples were detained for ‘khalwat’, or ‘close proximity’ to someone of the opposite sex other than their spouse, after religious authorities warned against the potential for immoral acts during Valentine’s Day.

Religious enforcement authorities in Kuala Lumpur conducted raids across public parks and budget hotels, as well as central Selangor state, on the lookout for teenagers renting rooms on an hourly basis.

Those arrested face up to two years in jail and a fine if convicted in an Islamic court.

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STO transparent, current MD tells press

The head of the Maldives State Trading Organisation (STO) has claimed that the company could not currently be involved in operating any “clandestine” businesses as news reports published this week allege that previous management may have been involved in shipping fraud relating to about US$800m worth of state oil, Miadhu has reported.

STO Managing Director Shahid Ali told the paper that the organisation was run very transparently and that STO Singapore – the subsidiary company linked in a news report for India-based publication The Week to the fraud allegations – was the only enterprise it runs abroad.

The claims were made after The Week magazine published an article on Friday that claimed  top-level officials from the former administration, including Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s half brother Abdulla Yameen, stood accused of personally profiting from selling subsidized oil on an international black market.  The allegations have been criticised as being “politically motivated”.

In discussing allegations of fraud that have been linked to previous company management, Shahid claimed that he was unable to provide any information on the Mocum Trading Company, which was alleged to have been set up by employees without the approval of the STO’s directors, as investigations were ongoing.

“Perhaps those employees were just used as rubber stamps to make that joint venture company. This will be only known after concluding the investigation,” he was reported as saying in Miadhu.  “The investigation is carried out by qualified parties. If the conclusion of the investigation necessitates any steps to be taken against any of the employees then it will be done so.”

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Allegations of STO’s blackmarket oil deals with Burma “politically motivated”: Gayoom

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has lashed out at comments made by the Presidential Commission yesterday that top-level officials from the former administration were involved in blackmarket oil deals with the Burmese military junta.

The allegations were first published in India’s The Week magazine on Friday. In the article, CNN-IBN Chief National Correspondent Sumon K Chakrabarti described Gayoom’s half brother and former STO Chairman Abdulla Yameen as “the kingpin” of a scheme to buy subsidised oil through the State Trading Organisation’s branch in Singapore and sell it on through an entity called ‘Mocom Trading’ to the Burmese military junta, at a black market premium.

The article, which has since been published on the magazine’s website, also claimed that Singaporean police were investigating the incidence of shipping fraud linked to STO Singapore. It drew heavily from a draft report from forensic accountancy firm Grant Thorton, commissioned by the Maldives government to investigate financial records on three hard drives pertaining to STO Singapore’s operations.

Gayoom has claimed that the allegations by the Presidential Commission were politically motivated. Newspaper Haveeru reported Gayoom as distancing himself from the STO, quoting the former President as saying that “I [had] no connections with the STO when I was the president and after that.

“STO has a board and a Chairman that oversee all the operations of the company. I never [got] involved in the matters of STO. The company will reveal its annual financial report at its General Meeting every year and discuss on the matters [raised in the report],” Haveeru reported Gayoom as saying.

“The commission is trying to tarnish my reputation because of the support given to me by the residents of the islands and the success DRP achieved in the local council election,” he reportedly added.

Yameen dismissed the allegations as “absolute rubbish” following the publication of Chakrabarti’s original story in The Week.

He acknowledged using the STO to send funds to his children in Singapore during his time as chairman, but denied doing so money following his departure from the organisation.

“After I left, I did not do it. In fact I did not do it 3 to4 years before leaving the STO. I used telegraphic transfer,” he told Minivan News.

Yameen also denied being under investigation by the Singaporean police.

Asked to confirm whether the STO Singapore had been supplying fuel to Myanmar during his time as chair of the board, “it could have been – Myanmar, Vietnam, the STO is an entrepreneurial trade organisation. It trades [commodities like] oil, cement, sugar, rice to places in need. It’s perfectly legitimate. “

In a subsequent interview with VTV’s ‘Fas Manzaru’ program, Yameen acknowledged flying to Burma during a period when the STO faced a rice shortage, “a very long time ago.” He had not visited in the past 16 years, he said.

“Perhaps this government is afraid that with my supposed Myanmar military links, I might bring over weapons from that country and overthrow this [Maldivian] government. But I have to say that those military officials in the Burmese government are ones I have never met. I don’t even know them,” Yameen told VTV.

He also announced that he was “ready to offer anyone 90 percent” of the alleged US$800 million in laundered money cited by The Week article, “if they locate it for me.”

“I only want 10 percent. If I get US$800 million now, 10 percent of that will suffice for me. Even if I get around US$80 million dollars, it will be enough for me,” Yameen said.

“Therefore this time for anyone who helps locate this [money], I am ready to hand over 90 percent of all that into the finder’s name.”

Yameen called on police to investigate the matter alongside previous allegations in the Indian press that President Nasheed had consumed alcohol.

“I welcome investigation. But if investigations are being done, then it should also be investigated when an Indian newspaper publishes such defamatory material against the President,” Yameen said.

The Presidential Commission has meanwhile stated that details of the alleged racketeering would be disclosed on conclusion of the investigation, in collaboration “with international parties”.

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Police questioning UK man after bomb threat false alarm

Police are questioning a 60 year-old UK man after a bomb threat was made on a Sri Lankan Airlines flight this afternoon.

Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft and the plane stood on the tarmac while the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) searched passengers’ baggage.

The MNDF eventually gave the all clear and the plane commenced its flight to London without major disruption.

Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam confirmed that the UK man, reported in local press as ‘Clement Paul’, had been handed over to police by the MNDF for questioning “but is not legally under arrest.”

MNDF Spokesperson Major Abdul Raheem earlier told Minivan News that a bomb threat was received by the control tower after a passenger on the aircraft declared there was a bomb on board.

“We checked the entire aircraft and there was no bomb,” he said, adding that the aircraft was soon given the all clear.

An airport official told Minivan News that the MNDF had searched passenger baggage on the airline, but added that there were no disruptions to service and no flights were delayed.

The Sri Lankan Airlines flight took off from Colombo on Monday afternoon and was scheduled to fly to London with 199 passengers.

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