Ali Hussain says corruption won’t end unless Anti‑Corruption Commissioner is chosen directly by the people

Calls for sweeping reform of the Anti‑Corruption Commission (ACC) intensified on Monday, after lawyer and former MP Ali Hussain argued that the institution will never be independent unless its leadership is chosen directly by the public.

His remarks came in response to a detailed reform proposal by former Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem, who described the ACC as a failed institution and urged a complete overhaul of its structure.

Shameem, writing on his blog, proposed replacing the current five‑member commission with a single Anti‑Corruption Commissioner, supported by two deputies with backgrounds in investigation, prosecution and legal work. He also recommended that the Commissioner, the Prosecutor General and the Tax Commissioner be appointed through parliamentary approval, with a chief executive officer overseeing administrative functions.

He further suggested appointing two or three prosecutors and educators to strengthen public awareness programmes, and rotating administrative staff every three years to reduce opportunities for entrenched corruption.

Ali Hussain, sharing an article on Shameem’s proposal on Facebook, said the ACC’s core problem is not the number of commissioners but the way they are chosen.

In Dhivehi, he wrote that the ACC cannot be independent unless its members are elected by the people or made structurally inseparable from political influence. He argued that as long as Parliament elects the commissioners, the process will remain vulnerable to executive pressure.

“It won't ever be resolved until the Anti‑Corruption Commissioner is directly elected by the people. Even if Parliament elects the members, the person the President wants will still come. Parliament has come to look like a government department,” Ali said.

His comments echo long‑standing public frustration over the ACC’s performance. Corruption remains a growing concern in the Maldives, with repeated complaints about irregularities in state projects and allegations that the ACC fails to properly investigate major cases.

Shameem’s proposals, and Ali’s sharper critique, have reignited debate over whether the country’s anti‑corruption framework needs reform, replacement, or a complete reset.