Month: October 2012

National Security Committee to resume STO oil trade investigation

The National Security Committee has decided to resume its investigation into the alleged US$800 million illegal oil trade involving the State Trading Organisation (STO).

The scandal emerged last year after an Indian magazine described Abdulla Yameen -former head of the STO and half-brother of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom – as “the kingpin” of a scheme to buy subsidised oil through the STO’s branch in Singapore and sell it on through an entity called ‘Mocom Trading’ to the Burmese military junta, at a black market premium.,

Committee Chair Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairman ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik said that information will be gathered from the Attorney General and the ACC, reported local media.

Yameen was summoned for questioning last by the committee last year, telling the members that he was not aware of Mocom’s activities.

In August, the MDP accused the government of calling a halt to the investigation after the Attorney General (AG) revealed that the government had received a bill of $10million from the forensic accounting firm Grant Thornton.

The MDP alleged was a penalty imposed for cancelling the firm’s investigation into the case.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Transport minister to be summoned to committee over Israeli jet

Parliament’s National Security Committee has decided to summon Transport Minister Dr Ahmed Shamheed and senior officials of the Addu International Airport Company (AIAC) over the landing of a private Israeli jet in Gan, Addu City in May this year.

Newspaper Haveeru reported the committee’s chair MP “Reeko” Moosa Manik, chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), as saying today that the officials were summoned in light of a resolution passed by parliament forbidding Israeli flights to land in the Maldives until the National Security Committee reached a decision on the issue.

Moosa added that the committee has not yet set a date to question the officials. The formerly ruling MDP presently has a voting majority in the National Security Committee.

Former Transport Minister Adil Saleem was questioned by the National Security Committee after the Deputy Leader of the Adhaalath Party, Dr Mauroof Hussain, alleged that the MDP government had decided to authorise Israeli national airline to fly to the Maldives and allow an Israeli military post to be established in the country.

Adil Saleem had denied the allegations when he was summoned to the committee.

Banning Israeli flights to the Maldives was among five demands made at a ‘mega-protest’ on December 23, organised by a coalition of eight parties and religious NGOs to ‘Defend Islam’ against the allegedly liberal policies of former President Mohamed Nasheed.

Following the change of government on February 7, the ruling coalition-dominated parliament passed a resolution on April 25 preventing Israeli national airline El Al from operating scheduled flights to the Maldives.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Government conducting financial survey, and census in 2014

The government has decided to conduct a national census in 2014 while the Department for National Planning is currently conducting an economic survey to gauge the country’s productivity.

The last census was conducted in 2006 by the Ministry of Planning and Development after the 2005 census had been delayed after the previous year’s tsunami.

The first modern census in the Maldives was said to have been carried out in 1977.  Following this, the government conducted the survey once every five years from 1985.

The 2006 census required just under 3000 staff to conduct and collected data relating to the size, geographical distribution, and socio-economic characteristics of the population including age, sex, educational attainments, marital status, and employment.

Data relating to size, geographical distribution, and socioeconomic characteristics of the population such as age, sex, educational attainments, marital status, and employment. will be collected.

The 2006 census found the population to be 298,968 although the most recent statistics from the department give a figure of 330,652.

The Department of National Planning also revealed yesterday that the Planning Ministry’s five-yearly economic study has commenced.

The information gathered from establishments involved in economic activities, between now and next May, will be used to determine the country’s productivity as well as to re-base GDP, local media has reported.

Real GDP – which uses a base year to measure the growth of an economy, in order to take account of price changes – currently takes 2003 as the base year, although the last economic survey was conducted in 2007.

Nominal GDP suggests that the Maldivian economy has grown by 261 percent since 2003, while real GDP shows that the rate is just 174 percent.

The 2007 report suggested that the retail, manufacturing and hospitality were the country’s largest employers, provided jobs for 19, 18, 16, percent of the working age population, respectively.

Fishing, traditionally one of the country’s largest employers, only accounted for 7 percent of the workforce according to 2007’s data.

In financial terms, tourism continues to be the economy’s greatest source of income this year, with the most recent figures predicting that over 30 percent of real GDP will come directly from this sector in 2012.

The service sector as a whole is expected to account for just over 80 percent of 2012’s real GDP.

The Minister of Finance and Treasury Abdulla Jihad told the Majlis last month that this year’s budget deficit can be expected to be double the original estimate of MVR3billion (US$195million) – over 18 percent of nominal GDP.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

JP MP Jabir to file complaint against MP Muthalib over allegations of alcohol use

Jumhoree Party (JP) MP Abdulla Jabir has said he intends to file a complaint against MP Ibrahim Muthalib at parliament’s Privileges Committee for accusing him of carrying a bottle of alcohol.

During yesterday’s sitting of parliament, MP Muthalib, who joined the religious conservative Adhaalath Party last year, alleged that he had seen MP Jabir walking out of the Hilton Hotel “with a bottle of alcohol in one hand and his wife in the other.”

MP Jabir’s wife is Minister of Gender, Family and Human Rights, Dhiyana Saeed.

The Fares-Maathoda MP made the allegation during a debate on problems facing the fisheries industry.

MPs have immunity from prosecution or defamation suits for remarks made during parliamentary debates.

Muthalib accused Jabir, chairman of resort company Yacht Tours, of using his time during parliamentary debates to “mock” the Islamic Ministry, the Adhaalath Party, and Islam.

In response, MP Jabir raised a point of order and said he regretted that “the Fares-Maathoda MP, who will see his own face and shape when he stands in front of a mirror and know he looks like someone who has committed theft after being elected as an MP [and] just told a blatant lie about us.”

The MP for Kaafu Kaashidhoo also remarked that MP Muthalib lacked “any education for someone who pretends to be a religious scholar.”

Jabir alleged that MP Muthalib was once banished for forging a signature, calling him a “big thief”.

Muthalib has meanwhile denied the allegations in local media today. Both the JP and Adhaalath are part of the current ruling coalition led by President Dr Mohamed Waheed.

In the 2008 presidential election, Adhaalath Party backed JP presidential candidate and business magnate Gasim Ibrahim and formed a coalition with the Republican party.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Top-ranking Chinese official to visit Maldives

Top Chinese official Li Changchun will visit the Maldives this as part of a three nation tour which will also take in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Li, described as China’s fifth highest-ranking leader, has been a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee since 2002.

An official from the Chinese embassy in the Maldives has confirmed that Li will arrive in Male’ this weekend after being invited by the government.

The official said that the background to the visit was the 40th anniversary of Sino-Maldivian diplomatic ties, but explained that there were always many reasons behind such visits which include the strengthening of bilateral ties.

Chinese state media has today reported that Li is in Islamabad meeting President Asif Zardari in order to take Pakistani-Chinese cooperation to a higher level.

Often referred to as China’s propaganda chief, Forbes magazine describes Li as the man who “controls what 1.3 billion Chinese see, hear, [and] speak.”

Most famously, Li is said to be the man behind the censorship of the internet in China, better known as the “Great Firewall of China”.

Li is one of seven members of the current Politburo Standing Committee scheduled to retire at the 18th National Congress next month.

Fellow members of the Standing Committee have toured widely across Asia and the pacific during the past month.

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan paid an official visit to China in late August as ties between the two nations continue to grow.

During this visit Waheed finalised the details on financial assistance to the Maldives worth $US500million (MVR7.7billion) with the promise of more to come.

China has become increasingly important to the Maldives in terms of tourism although analysts suggest that the Maldives also figures in China’s plans for domination of global sea lanes – often referred to as the string of pearls theory.

India has responded to enhanced Sino-Maldivian ties by reaffirming its traditional military links with the Indian Ocean nation, as well as offering its own financial assistance.

China leapfrogged the United Kingdom in 2010 to become the number one source of arrivals for the country’s travel industry.

Official figures reveal that China has provided 22.2 percent of all arrivals to the Indian Ocean nation this year – up 14.5 percent from last year.

A Chinese embassy opened in Male’ in time for the opening of the SAARC summit last November, reciprocating the opening of a Maldivian mission in Beijing in 2007.

The decision to open the embassy was announced during the visit of Wu Bangguo, the second highest ranking member of the current standing committee, May 2011.

Earlier this week, President Hu Jintao described ties between the nations as the “model of friendship between a big country and a small one.”

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Parliament approves committee report on assisting fishermen

Parliament today unanimously approved a report produced by an ad hoc committee formed three years ago to identify and propose solutions for difficulties faced by fishermen and boat owners.

The committee was formed on October 6, 2009 following a proposal by then-opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP for Haa Alif Kelaa, Dr Abdulla Mausoom.

In its report (Dhivehi), the committee recommended alerting the government to issues identified after consultations with officials from the fisheries ministry as well as fishermen from the three southernmost atolls.

The committee noted that fishermen were facing difficulties paying back loans due to the seven-year trend of declining fish catch.

Meanwhile at today’s sitting, MPs debated a declaration or resolution submitted by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP Ahmed Mahloof to expedite the Majlis’ legislative duties to enable the criminal justice system to function more efficiently. Eleven MPs spoke during the one hour debate allocated by Speaker Abdulla Shahid for the declaration.

Also at today’s sitting, an amendment proposed by Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) MP Riyaz Rasheed to the Privileges and Protection for Former Presidents Act of 2009 was rejected 37-22 with one abstention.

The MP for Thaa Vilifushi had proposed specifying exceptions in the law whereby ex-Presidents could be denied protection and financial benefits by the government.

The amendment was rejected despite several MPs of the ruling coalition declaring support for the changes. The law on state benefits and protection for former presidents was the first bill to be passed by the 17th parliament after it convened in May 2009.

Today’s sitting was adjourned by the Speaker at 1.40pm due to disorderly conduct by some MPs. Section 40(a)(4) of the standing orders or rules of procedure grants authority to the Speaker to adjourn a sitting due to disruption of proceedings.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Bill of amendments to Religious Unity Act returned to committee

The bill of amendments to the Religious Unity Act has been sent back to the Social Affairs Committee on Monday for further revision after a mere 16 out of 66 MPs in attendance voted for it to be passed.

Late MP Dr Afrasheem Ali, who was brutally murdered at the beginning of this month, had submitted the bill proposing a total of 11 amendments to the Religious Unity Act on June 7, 2010. The Social Affairs committee had completed its research into the bill on June 20, 2012.

The bill had been presented to the parliament floor for discussion on October 9, 2012. Members had submitted an additional 11 recommended amendments to the bill at that time, some of which were passed during Monday’s voting session.

The passed amendments include submissions by Adhaalath Party member and Fares-Mathoda MP Ibrahim Mutthalib. One of these amendments stated that only those who have been educated in a university approved by the qualification board or educated to a level deemed acceptable by the government could teach Islam in local schools. It also states that if a foreigner is to teach Islam, he has to be a Sunni Muslim.

Amendments prohibiting the establishment of prayer houses for any religion besides Islam; creating, selling or using anything depicting other religions, and seeking external assistance for spreading other religions were also passed.

Additionally, the amendment by Mavashu MP Abdul Azeez Jamaal AbuBakr of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) stating that there should be no attempts to instill love for a religion other than Islam in the hearts of school children and that no lessons involving other religions should be included in the school curriculum, was also passed.

Among the amendments which were rejected were a proposition to replace the existing Fiqh Academy with a ‘Fatwa Centre (Lecture Centre) and a proposition to appoint imams for all mosques and place them under the direct authority of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

At Monday’s parliament session, 45 of the 63 members in attendance voted against passing the proposed Bill of Amendments to the Religious Unity Act, with two members abstaining from the vote.

Meanwhile, Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir expressed concerns regarding the act in Monday’s parliament session. He said that enforcing such “strict religious penalties’ were not suited to a country as small as the Maldives.

Jabir went on to say that “all ministries in this 100 percent Muslim country are Islamic Ministries”, adding that the ministry being controlled by Adhaalath Party was leading to religious issues getting politicised.

He added that although the Adhaalath Party was based on religious values, it was nonetheless a political party with political aspirations.

Speaking to Minivan News today, Jabir said “What I am repeatedly saying is that the Maldives is too small a country for the implementation of these issues highlighted in this bill.”

The Religious Unity Act has been in effect since 1994 and has been previously criticised as being against the spirit of the 2008 Constitution.

The Islamic Foundation of the Maldives had also filed a case in the High Court in February 2011, claiming that the Religious Unity Act of 1994 was inconsistent with the constitution of the Maldives and should be invalidated.

In September 2011, the then-government had brought into force Religious Unity Regulations, enforcing the existing Religious Unity Act, with a penalty of 2 to 5 years’ imprisonment for violation.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Nasheed office’s allowance withheld

Minister of Finance and Treasury Abdulla Jihad has said that the office allowances payable to former President Mohamed Nasheed have been withheld for the past three months.

Sun Online have reported Jihad as saying that the issue was related to the unknown location of Nasheed’s office.

“We have not received any response to our letters to clarify this. The allowance will resume once they inform us the office location,” he said.

However, when questioned by local paper Haveeru Jihad said that the suspension of privileges was related to a disagreement over whether former president’s were required to conduct charitable activities.

“In reality, the office should be involved in holding social activities. However, the concern of these members is that there is no social work to be seen by the (Nasheed’s) office. It has to be clarified. Hence the financial allowances have been halted for the time being. We still haven’t been provided with the information we sought in relation to the office,” Jihad told the paper.

The paper reported that the current law on the matter states that up to MVR175,000 per month in office expenses can be provided to former heads of state conducting charitable work.

Jihad said that a former Presidents’ Immunity and Privileges Act is currently being drafted and that Nasheed will be allowed the privileges outlined in the eventual legislation.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Finance Committee debates prompt investigation of government finances

The Majlis Finance Committee has decided to table the issue of the alleged embezzlement of MVR24million ($US1.5million) by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) as an emergency issue tomorrow, local media has reported.

Following the release of the Auditor General’s report on the DMC’s 2010 finance, released last week, there have reportedly been two arrests in relation to the case.

Head of the committee Ahmed Nazim called into question the government’s accounting system, as did the Auditor General, Niyaz Ibrahim, who criticised those in charge at the DMC.

Ibrahim has also decided to expedite the audit of the government’s finances after being questioned in the Finance Committee about an allegedly unauthorised MVR300million ($US19.4million) loan, taken by the government from the Bank of Maldives in June.

That is an assignment we had planned for this year. But after the MPs raised questions over the matter, we have sped up that process and the assignment has commenced and is ongoing. This exercise is intended to carry out a comprehensive public debt audit of the State,” Haveeru quoted Ibrahim as saying.

He said that the audit will cover five years of spending and admitted that it was his office’s responsibility to determine legality of state debt.

“Based on the ratios, it is the responsibility of the Auditor General to determine the vulnerability of the State. If you look at the practice of the rest of the world public debt audits will cover such issues,” Niyaz added.

“Debt is a highly sensitive issue. It is related to the sustainability of the State. In addition to determining the authenticity, there are some vulnerability ratios we look for in a public debt audit,” reported Haveeru.

Likes(0)Dislikes(0)