Nepotism rampant in Maldives President Nasheed’s Government
The 6 month old government of Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed is at present struggling with economic, social and political woes mainly of its own making. Insiders blame President Nasheed’s heavy handed control of his top heavy political administration for the mismanagement of the budget, impractical whole sale changes to the administrative structure, collapse of social and welfare services and the failing economy.
The high profile faces of Nasheed’s top political appointees show a dominance of close relatives, interspersed with failed politicians and front line radicals from his party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). MDP sources report that this dominance of close relatives of President Nasheed, Vice President Dr Waheed and party Chairman Mariya Didi is at the root of emerging deep cracks in the MDP’s general membership. In addition to its inexperience, another factor contributing to Nasheed’s government’s continual mistakes and failures is apparently the lack of cohesion and cooperation in its front ranks. Most political appointees reportedly answer only to President Nasheed and do not undertake any action unless directly ordered by him.
Following are some examples of the rampant nepotism and cronyism in President Nasheed’s struggling government.
The high profile faces of Nasheed’s top political appointees show a dominance of close relatives, interspersed with failed politicians and front line radicals from his party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). MDP sources report that this dominance of close relatives of President Nasheed, Vice President Dr Waheed and party Chairman Mariya Didi is at the root of emerging deep cracks in the MDP’s general membership. In addition to its inexperience, another factor contributing to Nasheed’s government’s continual mistakes and failures is apparently the lack of cohesion and cooperation in its front ranks. Most political appointees reportedly answer only to President Nasheed and do not undertake any action unless directly ordered by him.
Following are some examples of the rampant nepotism and cronyism in President Nasheed’s struggling government.
- Housing, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Aslam is married to President Nasheed's 2nd cousin Naseema’s daughter Aishath Rameeza. (Aishath Rameeza is daughter of Naseema & Beru Ramzee ).
- Health Minister Aminath Jameel is married to Sikka Mohamed Ismail Maniku (kuda Sikka), whose elder brother is Sikka Ahmed Ismail Maniku (Bodu Sikka - the convicted November 3rd terrorist leader) who is married to President Nasheed’s aunt (father’s own sister).
- President Nasheed’s close friend DIK Ali Hashim is Finance Minister, and Acting Attorney General.
- President Nasheed's father is second cousin to Kerafa Ahmed Naseem, State Minister for Foreign Affairs.
- President Nasheed’s classmate and close friend Dr Hussain Rasheed Hassan is State Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture.
- Finance Minister Ali Hashim’s business partner Mahmood Raazee is State Minister for Civil Aviation. Razee is the nominee to take the Civil Aviation Minister’s portofolio.
- Transport Minister Aslam’s younger brother Assad is State Minister for Finance.
- President Nasheed’s classmate and close friend, Ahmed Muizzu, is Prosecutor General.
- President Nasheed’s classmate and close friend Husnu Suood is President Nasheed’s nominee for Chief Justice. Suood is also Prosecutor General Muizzu’s long time business partner in their joint law firm. Soood’s brother-in-law, Dr. Abdul Majeed is the Minister for Islamic Affairs.
- President Nasheed’s nominee for Speaker of Parliament, his cousin Fazna Ahmed’s husband Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, is MDP MP for Lhaviyani Hinnavaru. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is also brother of President Nasheed’s long-time lover Fathmath Solih. Ibrahim Solih is also President Nasheed’s class mate and best friend. His wife Fazna Ahmed’s mother is President Nasheed’s aunt. Fazna’s father is Bodu Sikka, the convicted November 3rd terrorist.
- President Nasheed’s cousin by marriage Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s younger brother Niyaz Solih is Deputy State Minister for Medhu Uthuru Province.
- President Nasheed’s cousin by marriage Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s elections’ campaign manager Mohamed Mahir is Counselor for Lhaviyani Atoll.
- President Nasheed's cousin, Eva Abdulla (his aunt Zuheyra's daughter), is MDP MP for Galolhu constituency.
- Eva Abdulla’s husband Saabe was, until last month, Deputy Chair of the Elections Commission. Saabe and Housing Minister Aslam are business partners.
- Saabe’s father Ogaru Mohamed Fulhu (loan shark & businessman) is Deputy Mayor for Male’.
- President Nasheed’s uncle by marriage and Eva Abdulla’s father Deyliya Abdulla Mohamed’s younger sister Rugiyya (also Ibrahim Solih’s cousin) is MDP MP for Vaavu Atoll. Deyliya is also President Nasheed’s best friend Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s cousin.
- Rugiyya’s husband Thoyyib is State Minister for Information and Arts. Thoyyib grew up in President Nasheed’s aunt’s household, Dheeframaage.
- President Nasheed’s uncle by marriage (Eva Abdulla’s father) Deyliya’s second wife Maizan Khadeeja’s brother Maizan Adam Maniku is State Minister for Housing, Infrastructure and Transport.
- President Nasheed’s classmate and close friend Ali Shiyam is Economic Advisor to the President. Ali Shiyam is also the head of President Nasheed’s Witch Hunt Commission.
- Ali Shiyam’s brother Ahmed Hamza was President Nasheed’s nominee for Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
- Ali Shiyam’s borther Jihad was MDP candidate for Faafu Nilandhoo constituency.
- MDP Chairperson Mariya's sister Ashiya Ahmed Didi’s ex-husband Dr. Ahmed Shaheed is Foreign Minister.
- MDP Chairperson Mariya's sister, Haula Ahmed Didi, is Deputy Foreign Minister.
- MDP Chairperson Mariya's sister Rugiya Ahmed Didi is President Nasheed's private secretary.
- MDP Chairperson Mariya's sister Rugiyya’s ex-husband Umaru Jamaal is State Minister for Gaafu Dhaalu Province.
- MDP Chairperson Mariya's brother-in-law Ahmed Latheef (married to Fazeena Ahmed Didi) is the Maldivian High Commissioner in Beijing.
- MDP Chairperson Mariya's nephew (Latheef’s and Fazeena’s son) Mifzal Ahmed is Advisor on Investments.
- MDP Chairperson Mariya’s sister Fazeena’s brother-in-Law Hassan Latheef is the Minster of Youth & Sports.
- MDP Chairperson Mariya's sister-in-law Farahanaz Faisal is the Maldivian High Commissioner in UK.
- Farahanaz Faisal's brother Ameen Faisal is the Defence Minister as well as Acting Home Minister.
- Farahanaz Faisal’s sister Shuweykaar’s husband Ahmed Rasheed is the Chief of Protocol.
- MDP Chairperson Mariya's brother-in-law Falaah (ex husband Abdul Sattar Ali’s brother) was MDP candidate for Maafannu Dhekunu constituency, but lost that seat.
- Auditor General Maakun Ibrahim Naeem is Falah’s cousin.
- Vice President Dr. Mohamed Waheed's brother-in-law Bigey was MDP candidate for Raa Alifushi constitutency, but lost that seat. Bigey was a Nasheed’s appointee as President’s Member in the last Parliament.
- Vice President Dr Waheed's brother-in-law Ilyaas Hussein is the Controller of Immigration.
- Vice President Dr Waheed's brother-in-law Naushaad Waheed is the Councilor at the Maldivian High Commission in UK.
- Vice President Dr Waheed's brother-in-law Hussein Shihaab is the Maldivian High Commissioner in Saudi Arabia.
- Vice President Dr Waheed's brother-in-law Hussein Shihaab’s brother Mohamed Shihab was Speaker of Parliament in the recently dispersed interim Parliament. He is now nominated for the post of Minister of Home Affairs.
The above list is just a sampler, quite a remarkable achievement for a President who campaigned against cronyism, nepotism and corruption.
May 31, 2009 12:51 PM
hahahahahahahahahahhahahah
the joke is us Maldivians!
May 31, 2009 1:11 PM
mee hama thedheh tha? ekamakuvaa bombi makunaa - mee fukeh bodu vareh.
May 31, 2009 1:28 PM
Isn't Maumoon and Anni related somehow as well?
May 31, 2009 1:42 PM
Obama is also related to Anni!
May 31, 2009 1:46 PM
This is really a good post.. are we related btw? I am sure we must be. I must admit this is a good work trying to make Anni look bad, but however much you try Anni can't beat Maumoon.
May 31, 2009 3:04 PM
To anon 1:46pm, yes anni cant beat maumoon in anyway except sonibeylumuge mubaarathun.
May 31, 2009 3:07 PM
true. however much this arse-hole ganjabo (anni)tries, he can never be the distinguished politician Mr. Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom is.
May 31, 2009 3:16 PM
Hi
Would it be possible for anyone to actually make a family tree sort of thing of this and whats missing. This could ideally have the posts and the pictures of the officials. This would make the message a lot clearer to the whole population voter base.
DRP member
May 31, 2009 3:45 PM
president nasheed's brother in-law Ilyas Ibrahim is the transport minister and the head of sto. president nasheed's brother Abdulla hameed is the atoll minister. president's nasheed's half brother yaameen is the tourism minister and the minister for gangs. president nasheed's long time classmate, and the lover of his wife zahir hussain is the minister of education, and owner of president's news paper. there's a lot more.
May 31, 2009 4:50 PM
I understand that Maumoona Haleem, Kerafaa Naseem's wife have also been given a deputy minister's post at some ministry or other. Could someone please check this out too?
May 31, 2009 5:09 PM
I hereby resign from MDP as of this moment, right after reading this post. Nasheed is definitely not a man of honor.
May 31, 2009 5:33 PM
Well said, Ibthisham Fayaz; you have displayed the honour and strength of character our esteemed leader does not. I and my family have followed your lead; the party we have resigned from is Adalat party. We were among the first to join them, but this article has exposed their hypocrisy; shame on them for leading us peace-loving Maldivians down the path of fitna! Never again. I'm now thankful that despite our efforts Adalat leader Hussain Rasheed failed dismally in the parliamentary elections! Truly Allah is with the righteous.
May 31, 2009 5:48 PM
Maldives is a small close-knit community where everybody is related in some way. So in a population of around 300, 000 in which 2/3 is chirldren, it would be difficult for a President to pick suitable qualified people to run the country. This is the main reason why nepotisim was so rampant (according to Anni) during Maumoon's era. However, when Maumoon came to power the population of this country was less than 200, 000 and that time Maumoon struggled hard to find some qualified aides to work with him. I believe Mamoon was far better than Anni for not giving high profile posts to his close friends and relatives. The above list indicates Anni is more cunning in deploying corrupt practices such as nepotism, cronysim, etc...
May 31, 2009 5:55 PM
I personally think is person is well qualified for any job, they should get it. What the article highlights is that BM Ganjabo has given posts to his close relatives and cronies without any qualifications. same for mariya's and waheed's family. that's the problem with BM Ganjabo's team. none of his relatives nor he ever workd in government, so they don't know head or tail about the country. that's why we are starving now, while they are pocketing high salaries. Some one should give an estimate of the total salaries of each of the above.
May 31, 2009 6:24 PM
Dear Anonymous @ 5.55,
I agree totally: if anyone is well qualified for a post they should get that post. But who are these people that Anni has selected? The only criteria is family and business links. If you take all those Councillors (earning around MRf 150,000 annually!) can't even read or write. At least one didn't even complete fifth grade! Come on, tell us how much money they're eating at our expense.
May 31, 2009 6:24 PM
anni is just another politician. politicians have no morality, they are ruthless and the only loyalty and commitment they have is to power. I sympathise with those people that believed anni was actually someone who was genuinely interested in helping them.
May 31, 2009 7:07 PM
Anonymous @ 6.24,
Nobody believed that Anni was genuinely interested in helping them. The mistake was believing that what went before was unimaginably worse. Well, now we see the truth. This country is going to hell in a handcart and all Anni is interested in is the aggrandizement of his family, relatives and drinking buddies.
May 31, 2009 7:37 PM
Please add to the following"Auditor General maakun Naeem is also First lady Laila's first lover" and.....
May 31, 2009 7:45 PM
haadha hevvaey dhoa. Anni ah magaamu dheveynee eyna kahala meehunnakah nun tha?Hathahaa ves hus bonbi makaunu. dhen anehkka mi dhauru dhiyaeema emeehun key saamaanu hoadhan dhuvan vee. mikamah nimumeh neiy tha? mikan vumuge kurin huttuviyyaa keeh tha vanee. kobaa BM ah vote li emmen?
May 31, 2009 7:49 PM
Anni ge bafaabe Ali Abdulla ves raaje thereyga yaa dhuniyeyge ethan mithanuga varah masahkaiy kurey nu? kobaa eynage nan? Auditor General Maakun Naeem Singapore ah gengos dhefushah firumaa hurihaa kharadheh kuranee e fakeerey. Eynage vaahaka ves liyelabala.
May 31, 2009 10:12 PM
@ Anonymous 5.55,
Talk about pocketing high salaries. Did you know that by the end of Anni's first 2 months in power, the wages bill had increased by MRf 90 million? And this was BEFORE the Councillors spread far & wide...
May 31, 2009 10:31 PM
haha MDP rundintha dhen ulheyne maumoon ge gui balan adhives. dhera nuvaathi. miothee fennan bombi makunu kuraakantha. maumoon version 2.0 bombi makunakee. version 2.0 veema maa nulafaavaane! dhen thibey hurihaa aalaathun thun fithaigen. mamirakaavanee raajjein. ma vaa salaan. makunaa makunu aailaa verikan kurey.
June 1, 2009 12:10 AM
Even they are from same family or same island, if they are qualified for the posts or have good experiences, then they deserve the posts. But in this government, I believe that most of the members in the higher posts are the most unqualified people I have ever heard in a government. Since the president Nasheed himself is from the street, he has selected the same kind of people.
June 1, 2009 12:45 AM
By the color which represents MDP, By MDP's leadership i guess u guys should know Canery will rule this country, He, he. It's designed for BM's family
June 1, 2009 12:51 AM
Aamugothaka malaamaathuge raagun vaahaka dhakaanee maa ingey meehun, ehenveema meeehunah varah bodah engeyne dho sarukaaru hingan. keykolaa.
June 1, 2009 12:53 AM
Dear Editor. A couple of corrections are in order I think.
17. Thoyyib is Minister of State for Tourism, Arts and Culture. He lacks knowledge or experience in either.
36. UK Councillor Naushad Waheed is Vice president Waheed's brother, not in-law.
Thanks.
June 1, 2009 1:02 AM
i agree with anonymous MAY 31, 2009 3:45 PM. You should add them to the list.
June 1, 2009 1:08 AM
Rangalhu vaahaka eh. Maakun, Keneree adhi Bongovva aailaa ah mi raajje havaalukurey dhaaimah1 Maves bachanee mithanun.
June 1, 2009 8:20 AM
there is more, how about fazeena's daughter mizna a board director in a public company, mariyaa's sister rugiyaa in PO, shuwaikaar in PO. Sood's nephew Shudee Anwar in every other company and advisor. I think there is one more sister of Maria in PO, i just forgot the name. It seems Maria is having the biggest number of relatives in the government.
June 1, 2009 8:37 AM
this is good. BM Ganjabo definitely has gone way beyond anyone else within a short span of time. i think it would be helpful for RN to complete the list if readers would contribute to the list as above. BM's office has a dounwloadable veringe list pdf file on their site. maybe everyone should check it out and send in what they note?
June 1, 2009 2:16 PM
PLEASE MAKE A CHART WITH PHOTOS OF THE PERSONS AS NOT ALL OF US KNOW THE FACES YET.AND THE ARTICLE WILL B MORE EFFECTIVE.GREAT RESEARCH...LETS HOPE THESE OPEN THE EYES OF THOSE BLINDED BY THE YELLOW FEVER.
June 1, 2009 2:23 PM
So this is the truth! When Anni wanted the power, he was shouting every where for 24hrs, saying Maumoon and his family is ruling the government. But now we can see the reality. He was using it as a weapon. He was playing with our minds. Shame on him. I really want to thank to Raajje News team for this article. Only after reading this article, I realized what Anni is really doing. Thank you very much for making us realize his tricks. He is a big fat lier.
June 1, 2009 2:52 PM
why does maldivians think that every guy who proves that anni is a huge failure is a member of the drp? i dont give a fuck abt drp but i say anni is a failure. he is a bigger asshole than maumoon is. the pot head and his government is worse than the previous one. and they are doing the same shit (like aailee verikan) worse than the previous guys. wake up and get this ass out of the presidents office. he does not belong there. i will never ever vote for mdp again. worse mistake.
June 1, 2009 3:02 PM
Anni has no alternative but to do as instructed by his father-in-law Ali Abdulla & uncle-in-law Sikka. Take a closer look at Anni's administration & you will see their presence.
June 1, 2009 3:09 PM
hey, dont forget mahamood raazi is second cousins to 1st lady laila n airport company chair amir is also cousins to laila by marriage! the extent of nepotism extends far...
June 1, 2009 3:10 PM
more than 50,000 people voted outside a partyline in the recent parliamentary election. So the majority block of voters in this country didn't support mdp, drp or any other political party. therefore whoever that doesn't support mdp necessarily don't have to be drp. I am not a drp member either. But i don't support mdp.
June 1, 2009 3:12 PM
raajjenews, pls get us photos of the thick aailaa ring gulping govt money
June 1, 2009 3:29 PM
aww why hasnt anni brought in crack voice abujee, his uncle. that would add humour to the humiliated cabinet of dingos
June 1, 2009 3:30 PM
jameel saahab resigned again? is this his hobby or what?
June 1, 2009 3:46 PM
Dear anon @ 3:10.
According to the Dhiraagu sms dictionary (write dict - space - word & sms to 313)
Eccentric means:
Departing from arecogonized, conventional, or established norm or pattern......
I dont know about Mahmood Razee's relationship to President Nasheed's family. But if Mr. Razee's behaviour in public is a yardstick to judge his spectrum of thinking, I certainly classify him as a person with his "axis" (his brain) located elsewhere than at the geometric center. Look at his trademark "bow tie" (Departing from a recogonized conventional, or established norm or pattern of dressing in the Maldivian societies). Btw, I also hope to see Raazee in a place of prayer and practice the established norm of devotion to Allah in Islam (which he has miserably failed to do in the past).
June 1, 2009 3:54 PM
my dear poolog,
for a dimwit like you, you've certainly done well. this is one a helluva perfect research job on the "eccentric minister". Man... you must be running a severe migrain headache now. i've got some advice for you. "stay away from politics, PLEASE!"
June 1, 2009 4:01 PM
Dear poo,
You derserve a PHD for this. Congratulations!
June 1, 2009 4:49 PM
Hello People,
Talking about media freedom..... Have you noticed the "yellow flowers" blooming at the mention of "ALLAH AKBAR" in the call for prayer on TVM ? So much for media freedom in the Maldives.
June 1, 2009 8:59 PM
Yellow flowers, Maldivians shit is even in Yellow color now. Or else you would be a terrorist! Sikka and all are national heroes. Anyone who cant shit in yellow is a fucking terrorist. Dhen Dr. Waheedhu elaalaafa Sikka v.president ah hadhaa. Kanbalhi bonbi makunah thikuraa hithvara saabahey. Mulhi aailaa veri kamah aruvaa. Maumoonuge vaahaka eba adhi dhakaehnun. hahahaha kesbe.
June 2, 2009 7:15 AM
by the way, yellow, as in mdp yellow is the colour of severe hard core crimminals according to national eographic. so that's the inspiration behind the 'yellow' mdp. please leave the rest of the country free from crimminal yellow fever!
June 2, 2009 8:16 PM
@ everyone,
Please don't blame only yourselves. I can't believe my fellow Englishmen in the Conservative Party could have been duped by these people. Obviously Anni & Co knew all the right words to say, and at first glance, 30 years in power does kind of strike those of us raised in Western countries as a bit difficult to take in, so it would have been easy to believe their mantra of "dictatorship, dictatorship". After all, even Maggie THatcher was only able to hold on to power for 11 years and she was not known as the Iron Lady for nothing! Anyway, I commiserate with all Maldivians who have been duped into voting for Anni. My anger goes out towards the Conservatives for using their oh-so-clever spin doctors to help place a dictator in power!
June 2, 2009 8:39 PM
Heh heh, who cares about the English anyway? Look at the state their "mother of all Parliaments" is in!! Every Tom, Dick and Harry has been caught with their pants down and their hands in the cookie jar! And they have the cheek to lecture us on GOOD GOVERNANCE??? Shame, shame.
June 2, 2009 8:44 PM
RN team,
Don't forget Sabra Noordeen the real power at the High Commission in London even though she's said to be "only a Political Officer"! Guess who she's related to?? Please don't take this list down. Keep on updating it. Everyone, look around. You must have some juicy titbit to add?
June 3, 2009 2:57 PM
RN,
Please ask Maakun General what the government is paying for Anni to keep his relatives in high government posts.
June 3, 2009 8:23 PM
Dear Editor,
Kindly make a chart of this nepotistic regime's top people so we can all see who they are! Don't give up the fight to spotlight the abuses this government is committed on our poor citizens. Oh, why won't the alimighty Tory party save us? If they love him so much why didnt they keep him in the UK and save us Maldivians this misery?
June 4, 2009 12:45 AM
And what about Ainthu Najeeb at TV? Isn't she a Maakun too?
June 5, 2009 12:59 AM
Jennifer Latheef at Parole Board....
June 7, 2009 2:54 PM
I respect the person who followed my lead and resigned from MDP :)
June 10, 2009 2:32 PM
My family and me VOTED TWICE IN RUNNING for this sad ass president. Let us wait for his promised MID TERM ELCTIONS.
-- Saabe