Yameen says parliament failing to hold govt accountable
Yameen said that instead of assigning responsibilities to capable and qualified individuals, key positions are being handed to unsuitable people.
Former President Abdulla Yameen on Monday said the main purpose of Parliament is to hold the government accountable, a responsibility he claimed is not being fulfilled by the current legislature.
Speaking at the Haa Alif Atoll Council’s ‘Thila Uthuru Award’ ceremony in HA. Dhidhdhoo, Yameen said Members of Parliament should act to ensure the government remains on the right path.
“The main purpose is to tell the government that if it is getting out of the way and doing things not in the interest of the people, we have the power to bring it back on track,” he said.
“Is that the case today? Not the case today. We always hear about corruption, loss of people’s money, loss of land, loss of flats. Who is looking into these cases? Is there an Auditor General? Is there an Anti-Corruption Commission?”
Yameen said that instead of assigning responsibilities to capable and qualified individuals, key positions are being handed to unsuitable people.
“It is not in the hands of any president to distribute wealth as he wishes. It is impossible to give forests and islands as he wishes,” he said, referring to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption scandal.
He added that the Maldives needs to develop a generation of individuals who are skilled and trustworthy.
“It is the easiest thing to give a person a job. But the Maldivian government and the Maldivian state are incapable of ensuring that he fulfils his responsibilities honestly and sincerely,” Yameen said.
“Is it not happening, or is it deliberate negligence? We keep hearing about land being lost, money being lost in various places and in different amounts. There is an Auditor General. There is an Anti-Corruption Commission. The state should allow these institutions to exercise their powers.”
