PNC accused of SOE funding in party membership drive

The ruling People's National Congress (PNC) has come under fire for allegedly using state-owned company resources to fund trips aimed at increasing party membership.

The accusations were raised by Mohamed Abbas, Vice Leader of the government-aligned Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) and Noonu Velidhoo MP, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Without directly naming the PNC, Abbas insinuated that executives of state-owned enterprises have been expensing their trips, supposedly for corporate purposes, when in reality these trips are intended to boost the party's membership base.

Abbas called the practice an abuse of public funds.

“Travelling to increase membership for the party in the same manner as companies are billed is a betrayal of the people’s money," he wrote, alluding to the alleged misuse of corporate budgets.

The ruling party has set the goal of enrolling 75,000 members by November, marking the first anniversary of the current government’s administration. According to the PNC, its membership has already reached 50,000, with significant efforts underway to grow that number further.

Abbas pointed to photos of evidence of trips to islands as proof of the alleged misuse of funds. These images, according to Abbas, indicate that the excursions were not company-related but aimed at bolstering PNC's membership. He criticised the spending as a form of theft, accusing the PNC of misappropriating public money.

"They must stop stealing people's money day and night," Abbas declared, making his stance on the matter clear.

Despite attempts to contact the PNC for comment on the accusations, the party has remained silent, with calls going unanswered.

Abbas represents MDA, led by businessman and MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, and is also involved in efforts to grow his party's membership. Whether the allegations are a strategic political move amid increasing competition between parties or a genuine concern about the misuse of public resources remains to be seen.