Faisal calls on government to act urgently and stop wasting resources to build support

Former Vice President Faisal Naseem has urged the government to take urgent action “before time runs out” and to stop wasting state resources in efforts to garner political support, warning that global instability is already affecting the Maldives.

In a post on X, Faisal said the government had assured the public last week that there would be no difficulties in obtaining basic food items other than oil and gas. “However, today we are facing difficulties in getting gas,” he said, adding that rising global oil prices will sharply increase the cost of fuel imports and push commodity prices higher in the domestic market.

Faisal noted that the government is already seeking additional borrowing to cover debt repayments, fuel purchases and other expenses. He cautioned that this is a difficult period to raise debt and said the economy had not been managed effectively over the past two years, even during normal conditions.

He warned that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could lead to one of the biggest economic shocks the Maldives has faced, especially as many Maldivian businesses rely on imports from or transiting through the region.

ނިމިދިޔަ ހަފުތާގެ ތެރޭގައި ސަރުކާރުން ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ޔަޤީންކަން ދިނީ ތެލާއި، ގޭސް އަދި އަސާސީ ކާބޯ ތަކެތި ލިބުމުގައި އެއްވެސް ދަތި ކަމެއް ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ކުރިމަތި ނުވާނެ ކަމަށް.

ނަމަވެސް މިއަދު މިވަނީ ގޭސް ލިބުމުގައި ދަތިތަކަކާ ކުރިމަތިލާންޖެހިފައި.

ދުނިޔޭގެ ބާޒާރުގައި ތެލުގެ…

— Faisal Naseem (@FaisalNasym) March 15, 2026

Faisal said the government currently spends around USD 50 million a month on fuel, and that this figure could rise to USD 75 million due to global price increases. This, he said, would raise operating costs for resorts, private businesses and small enterprises, with knock‑on effects on jobs.

He called for the establishment of a task force led by the President to coordinate day‑to‑day national management and work with all relevant stakeholders during what he described as a critical period. He also urged the government to stop hiring for “useless jobs” and to end the wasteful use of state resources aimed at increasing political support.

Faisal said the public deserves clear and accurate information instead of indifference or denial.

Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed said earlier this month that the Maldives would not face shortages of oil and gas due to the conflict in the Middle East. He acknowledged that oil is among the first commodities affected during regional instability, but said the government is managing fuel supplies in anticipation of such risks.