President defends digitalisation amid opposition criticism
As part of the Maldives 2.0 project, all public services across the country will be unified into a single platform.
President Mohamed Muizzu has questioned the opposition’s stance against the government’s newly launched Dhivehiraje 2.0 project, which aims to digitise public services across the Maldives.
Speaking a day after the project's inauguration, President Muizzu stated that the initiative is a major effort to eliminate corruption from the state system. He expressed concern over opposition criticism, particularly from members of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), who allege that the government is attempting to transition to e-voting ahead of the next presidential election.
In response, President Muizzu challenged the opposition’s unwillingness to support what he described as a structured approach to improve governance. He outlined several elements of the project, stating:
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Maldives 2.0 is intended to be a significant measure to eliminate corruption in state institutions.
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The system will provide individuals full control over their data.
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It is designed to operate as a two-way, streamlined, and responsive platform.
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It is expected to improve Maldives’ rankings in international indices, including corruption perception and press freedom.
“This is the goal that the people want,” the President said. “In pursuing this goal, we will move forward with the people. I call on the political opposition to take part in this journey responsibly.”
The digitisation initiative is being developed in collaboration with Estonia. President Muizzu visited Estonia earlier this year to observe its public service systems.
As part of the Maldives 2.0 project, all public services across the country will be unified into a single platform. The project will include the introduction of digital identification cards and the legal framework necessary for ministries, councils, and other agencies to operate digitally.
