2 ex-MPs appointed to posts in govt companies

Two former Members of Parliament, who joined the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) following the 2023 presidential election, have been appointed to positions in state-owned enterprises.

Former Kanditheemu MP Abdulla Shaheem Abdul Hakeem and former Kendhikulhudhoo MP Abdul Ghani Abdul Hakeem have been given appointments in government companies.

Abdulla Shaheem has been appointed as General Manager for Facility and Community Empowerment at Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL). Abdul Ghani has been appointed Deputy Managing Director at AgroNat, an agricultural company that resumed operations recently after a prior decision to dissolve it.

Both appointments were made last month. The monthly salary for the posts is MVR 40,000.

AgroNat, established under the previous administration, was the first state-owned enterprise announced for dissolution by the current government. However, the company was subsequently reinstated. With Ghani's appointment, the number of deputy managing directors at AgroNat has increased to three.

Shaheem and Ghani were elected to the previous parliament on the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ticket. They joined the PNC following the change in government and in the lead-up to the 2024 parliamentary elections.

A number of MPs affiliated with the ruling PNC/People’s Progressive Party (PPP) have since taken up posts in government institutions. Following this, 13 MDP members also joined the PNC.

Ghani contested the 2024 parliamentary election for the Kendhikulhudhoo constituency as an independent candidate with the support of President Mohamed Muizzu but was not elected. Shaheem did not contest in the election.