MDP submits no-confidence motion against Minister Ihusan

A no-confidence motion against Home Minister Ali Ihusan was submitted to the Parliament on Thursday with the signatures of 12 MDP MPs.

The no-confidence motion alleges that the Minister engaged in actions inappropriate for someone in their role as a cabinet minister and violated laws.

In this regard, the party detailed that the Minister, after a local company had developed an expatriate system to be used by the Immigration to manage the affairs of expatriates working in the Maldives, had put a stop to this and handed over the work to Malaysia’s Bestinet, a company facing serious corruption allegations.

MDP emphasized that the system developed by the local company was designed to be maintained through local systems at a lower cost. Therefore, transferring the oversight of the system to Bestinet resulted in a loss of benefit to the state, which constitutes a criminal offense under Article 517 of the Penal Code.

The main opposition party also accused Minister Ihusan, in his role as the minister overseeing the Maldives Police Service, of politically influencing the authority and obstructing its investigations on criminal offenses committed by the government.

The Minister was accused of repeatedly obstructing the Police from carrying out their duties as mandated by the law.

Other allegations made against the Minister in the no-confidence motion:

• Information released by Elections Commission (EC) indicate that a large number of  fake forms were submitted to inflate the membership of the ruling PNC using sensitive information of citizens extracted from the Department of National Registration (DNR) database, without their knowledge.
• Minister Ihusan oversees all matters related to DNR database while the information on fake forms submitted to EC is privy to anyone with DNR access
• The disclosure that the fake forms were filled at DNR’s office, using the department’s resources and staff

The no-confidence motion highlighted the potential for Minister Ihusan to obstruct any criminal investigation against him if he remained in his position. It argued that his continued tenure would violate the rights of Maldivian citizens and pose a threat to the security and safety of the Maldives.

Notably, the no-confidence motion against Minister Ihusan was submitted with the signatures of all 12 MPs representing MDP in the parliament. They are:

1. MDP Parliamentary Group leader, South Hithadhoo MP Ibrahim Nazil
2. Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyadh (Fittey)
3. Maradhoo MP Ahmed Didi
4. South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem
5. South Hulhumale’ MP Ahmed Shamheed
6. Kanditheemu MP Ameen Faisal
7. Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa
8. Thoddoo MP Hussain Sameer
9. Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir
10. Maavah MP Ahmed Shakir
11. Keyodhoo MP Mohamed Naushad
12. North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim