The Quality of Political Appointees in the Nasheed Administration
As almost seven months pass since President Mohamed Nasheed took power in the Maldives, Maldivian citizens despair of ever seeing the much promised improvements in their livelihoods. The state treasury has been exhausted within this brief period, and the economy has declined to an extent worse than the aftermath of the 2004 Asian Tsunami. Escalating price of consumer goods, collapse of social services, increasing food insecurity and declining real income have thrown more people below the poverty line. While President Nasheed is engrossed in his hate and persecution campaign against political opponents, his government has ground to a halt.
The Nasheed administration came into power promising reduced expenditures, increased government revenue and a clamp down on corruption in top government circles. President Nasheed’s first budget (2009) has a 7 billion deficit (nearly 5 billion more than the previous administration’s last budget, and government revenue has fallen by more than 28% since he took power. As for clamping down on corruption in top government circles, one need only look at the quality of political appointees in the Nasheed administration.
Indeed, there is no recognized metric for measuring the quality of political appointees. Nonetheless, a look at the backgrounds and previous activities of political appointees is clear evidence of an alarming decline in qualifications of political appointees in the country.
Numerous political appointees serving in President Nasheed’s Administration have criminal backgrounds. This can be demonstrated by a short review of some shining examples such as:
Mohamed Rasheed Hussain, Minister of State for Human Resources, Youth and Sports:
President Nasheed’s class mate and crony Mohamed Rasheed (aka Bigey), was convicted in 1992 under the terrorism act for his active involvement in planning and executing terror attacks against the general public. Terror attacks masterminded and executed by Bigey include arson attacks on two private cars and launches in Male’. Bigey’s terror campaign was aimed at bringing his brother-in-law, incumbent Vice-President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Maniku to power. Bigey’s second life in Government began when Nasheed appointed him as a President’s member to the interim Parliament. Following his failure in the recent Parliamentary Election, Rasheed (aka Bigey) was elevated to the post of Minister of State at the Ministry of Sports Employment and Human Resources. In his pre-terrorist days, Bigey worked as a technical assistant in the Marine Rsearch Centre. He later survived on small businesses such as mechanical workshops and small scale civil contracting.Abdulla Shahid, Minister of State for Housing, Transport and Environment.
Shahid (alias DB – Double Bass) is a convicted terrorist and traitor to the country. He was an accomplice of President Nasheed’s uncle-in-law Bodu Sikka’s attempted coup on November 3rd , 1988 to overthrow the government and take power. Sikka’s coup was undertaken with the LTTE. Shahid was also homosexual Sikka’s drinking buddy and ‘close personal friend’. Shahid was found guilty of terrorism and sentenced to life imprisonment. Pardoned by President Gayoom, Shahid went to work in his family owned business. President Nasheed first appointed him Minister of State for Defence. However, when a public outcry broke and hundreds of people marched in demonstration against Nasheed’s appointment of convicted terrorist and traitor as Defence State Minister, Nasheed transferred DB to his current position as Minister of State for Housing, Transport and Environment. According to the ministry staff, Shahid has absolutely no clue of the work in his Ministry.Ahmed Shafeeq, Minister of State for Home Affairs:
Shafeeq’s (aka Goathi Vagu) civil service carrier started at the Selected Islands Development Unit which was entrusted with the responsibility of developing Viligili Island as a township of Male’. Shafeeq obtained property (Housing land) on the island through fraudulence using his office. He was charged with the crime and found guilty. He was exiled for this crime. He got an opportunity to mount his vendetta on Gayoom when he was elected to the Constitution Assembly in 2004. It is widely believed in Meemu Atoll, the constituency from which he got his Constitutional Assembly seat, that Goathi Vagu got his votes in a confusion amongst voters as to who-is-who between his competitor and name-sake Ahmed Shafeed (alias, Kokko Shafeeq).Umar Jamal, Minister of State for Home Affairs:
Umar Jamal is also a convicted terrorist and traitor, convicted for his participation in the 3rd November Coup attempt. Convicted and later pardoned after serving apart of his prison sentence. Jamal had worked as a refrigeration instructor at the Vocational Training Center. Umar Jamal is the ex-husband of Rugiyya Ahmed Didi (MDP Chairperon Mariya Didi’s sister). Rugiyya is presently a Deputy Under Secretary at the Executive Services branch of The President’s Office.The above is just a sample of the top political appointees by President Nasheed. As is well known by all Maldivians, his government’s top political posts are filled with persons of similar caliber – that is, known ex-cons, fraud artists, racketeers, gang lords, terrorists who have attacked the Maldives with armed personnel, porn stars and swindlers. Amongst the above examples and numerous others, these include Special Envoy Ibrahim Hussain Zaki (infamous for his swindling of seven resorts while Tourism Minister), Nasheed’s close cousin State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kerafa Ahmed Naseem (infamous for his unabashed soliciting of bribes from potential foreign investors when he was head of the Foreign Investment Board), Personal Secretary Ziyad (known drug lord and gangster), Defence Minister Amin Faisal (a leader of the attempted military coup to support Nasheed’s uncle Bodu Sikka’s joint attempt with the LTTE to overthrow the then government), State Minister for Trade Adil Saleem (lead actor of an infamous porn movie), and Thimarafushi Musthafa (well known gangster and loan shark). President Nasheed himself comes from a background of corruption and embezzlement of state funds, typified by the well known and proven case of his father Kerafa Abdul Sattar’s embezzlement from the government company, MITE and later his attempt (again co-lead by Sattar’s brother-in-law, Bodu Sikka) to assainate President Ibrahim Nasir.
The title Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a minister of state is a junior minister who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister (probably it is so in the Maldives too). In others countries a minister of state is a holder of a more senior position, such as a cabinet minister or even a head of government. Usually, a minister of state is assigned a specific area of work for which the appointee is qualified (experience considered as a qualification). However, in the case of the Maldives now, it appears that President Nasheed plans to spend from the national budget to pay his party Maldivian Democratic Party’s lead militants for their past services to himself and his family.
With such quality in charge of the affairs of the state, it is no small wonder that the Maldivian economy has collapsed, the state treasury has been ransacked and the Maldivian people beggared.
June 7, 2009 9:44 PM
This is a shame for all Maldivians. Ladhun fiyykadaigen hingajje'.
June 7, 2009 10:02 PM
landayaa vaanee landayaa dho.
June 7, 2009 10:08 PM
Riyaz Rashee'd proposed bill to the parliament should be ammended "to abolish political functions that are not traditionally practiced in Presidential Democracies" such as our's.
June 7, 2009 10:10 PM
our government leaders are tettorist who attacked maldives and killed fellow citizens and defense personels. this is really a shame. couldnt nasheed find better people than this?!?! if nasheed wanted the best for all maldivians these crooks want be in power. even abdhullah shahids case... when people started protesting when nasheed apointed his as a defense state miniter he just simply switched him to housing ministry... and these maldivians .. they just let it go just like the way they let go of the november 3rd terrorist attack. and we say we love our nation... this is really a shame... i should blow up the presidents palace, kill a couple of fellow citizens and maybe nasheed will appoint me as a minister too.
June 7, 2009 10:21 PM
Dear Anonymous @ 10:08. Good point. Alternatively, at least contain the numbers that are created. Ganjabo is running-away with his "posts-for-people" policy. Adressing the issue, in his radio speech on Friday Ganjabo accused the legislature of infringing on the functions of the Executive. Bloody Idiot! Can't he understand that the issue of him arbitrarily creating high profile posts for ex criminals, rogues and terrorists have become a national concern. We are concerned for our international reputation. Maldives is his not hereditary property. Give me a break!
June 7, 2009 10:53 PM
Anni should not use government funds to finance his party. Now we hear that every political appointee has to agree to "donate" at least 15% of his income to MDP coffers before he will even be considered for a plum job. This is sheer blackmail and corruption of the highest order. All these people must be made to return their ill-gotten gains!
June 7, 2009 11:23 PM
once again another article with proof... unlike DO Sappe's crap site. Haveeru and all other major news papers should point out these issues in raajje news. The media should open up their eyes and raise their voices.
June 7, 2009 11:27 PM
kokko shafeeg is a minister... amatasiri! he offered my girlfriend the opportunity to go abroad for studies and guess what he wanted in return... he said when ever he goes there he'll be staying with her and she should be ok with everything he does (that is having sex with her and all)... and in her holidays to male' she has to go to resorts with him to party. What an arsehole! thank god she rejected his offer to be his slut. I heard he has alot of girls like that.
June 8, 2009 12:12 AM
Maldivians may as well walk around with our trousers and underwear down to our ankles when we are travelling abroad. What does this president think he is doing!
June 8, 2009 12:14 AM
Mashah heevanee ganjabo boluga avahah beys gandeh alhanveehen.
June 8, 2009 12:35 AM
Ekamakuvaa Mi blog ga vagah photo nagaigen beynun mikuranee , mee alhe vakkamei noon baa.
June 8, 2009 3:43 AM
Dear Anonymous @ 12.35. As a Maldivian and frequent reader of the high quality articles in Raajje News, I am ashamed that the best you could think of to say with respect to the above article is the photographs. For your information, photographs posted on the net do not have copyright. The web is public property where material is posted for people to read and view and use. If web content is intended for private use it is protected. Please use a little bit of your time to at least try and think about the issue raised in the above article .. ie terrorists and traitors in charge of the nation.
June 8, 2009 3:49 AM
Anonymous @ 10.08 and Anonymous @ 10.21. Yes, valid point regarding legislation for regulating the political tier of government. With the new constitution, it is important to have such legislation to practically implement Parliament's powers to check and balance the Executive. Having such legislation does not impinge on the powers of the President, but ensures that the rights of citizens to good governance are upheld. This is the whole point ... good governance. Why doesn't Ganjabo realise this simple fact? That he has to govern the country fairly and in the correct way. Doesn't he realise that he has taken an oath in front of Allah to do so? Ganjabo seems to think being President of the country is the same as being MDP Chairman. ie .. booze, take drugs, yell and scream on the roads. Maybe Ganjabo was too drugged out when he took oath of office as president to realise the commitment he was making to Allaah.
June 8, 2009 4:00 AM
RN, you forgot to include Ilyas Hussain, Bigey's brother. he was also a lead man in the bombing case. Ilyas is State Minister for Customs, isn't he? And what about State Minister Adil? he was sacked from Tourism Ministry for corruption and bribery related to tourism bids. Please make this a series of articles and cover all the top people in Ganjabo's admin. Also, a reminder for the pics of the Nepotism article as requested by most readers.
June 8, 2009 5:12 AM
This article is very good. Whatever bias you may have, you guys bring fact to us and I aprreciate that. The issue here is a matter of grave concern to every Maldivian - MDpians as well as others. Besides the quality of the administration for which we Maldivians are paying, our international reputation is at stake (not that Nasheed's admin has any national reputation any more). I supported change for the better when I voted for the presidency. I didn't vote for this. The "iththihad" that came together against Mr. Maumoon must hold themselves accountable for what's happening should hold themselves accountable for Nasheed's actions.
June 8, 2009 5:18 AM
Nasheed's admin should advertise a slogan now:
"SUPPORTED BY DRUG ADDICTS - LEAD BY TERRORISTS"
June 8, 2009 5:31 AM
RN
Ilyas Hussain Ibrahim is Minister of State Controller of Immigration and Emigration.
@ 5.12: Don't fool yourself. If you voted for Anni, you definitely didn't vote for change for the better. You're as much to blame as Hassan Saeed, Ibra and Gasim for the calamity that has befallen Maldives today. Next time, I beg you, do us all a favour and don't go vote. Maldives could well do without those of your type who cast their ballots unthinkingly...
June 8, 2009 6:39 AM
did you realise that a state minister in this regime is paid a total of 47000 Rf per month. This is what a minister in the previous regime was paid. So just imagine the expenses of these people.........all state ministers and ministers are ranked ministers salaries and above! This is the low budgeted good governing government that we were promised! How pathetic!
June 8, 2009 7:07 AM
Maumoon was doing the same by exchanging political positiions for votes in the majlis. An example is the case of Ismail Abdul Hameed (Kaafu memeber).
June 8, 2009 7:11 AM
Maumoon gave political positions to his family.
June 8, 2009 7:27 AM
anonymous 5:30. Rub the sleep out of your eyes and think. Don't become so personal, please. Try to contribute by commenting constructively on the contents of the article and not on the commentators. Your type of personal attack reflect on all the readers of this blog.
June 8, 2009 8:56 AM
anon@7.07 am. and Anon @7.11 wake up, Majlis members can no longer have government posts. as for Maumoon, when he came to power in 1978, the family members you are talking about were already top government officials in Ibrahim Nasir's government. Hameed was Nasir's Cabinet secretary for 12 years , and Ilyas was Nasir's deputy at Defence. So Maumoon didn't bring them from home and give them political posts. They were already exerienced top political people before Maumoon even came to Male'. But Ganjabo, he's giving top posts to his family and Mariya's family and Bodu Sikka's "mistresses" by bringing them from home. These people are only qualified as terrorists, not to govern. Please get your facts right before opening your mouth.
June 8, 2009 8:57 AM
Goathi vaggu was sacked from Majeediyya school for using "Ekuveringe gulhun" money while he was the treasurer in Ekuveringulhun
June 8, 2009 7:07 PM
Just FYI:
Those of us who were at school with Goathi Vagu remember him by another name: Ziney Sappe!
Hope I don't have to draw you a picture...
June 9, 2009 12:42 AM
Nasheed gives a whole new meaning to the term "Kitchen Cabinet", heh heh.
June 9, 2009 10:41 AM
Dear 7.11,
As 8.56 points out, Abdulla Hameed had already served 12 years as Ibrahim Nasir's Cabinet Secretary and Ilyas Ibrahim was Nasir's Deputy Defence Minister, so what Maumoon did was what any other good boss should have done: he promoted capable people upwards. How does that equate to nepotism? Think for a change and don't just let DO or Sappalhey dictate what you should think. Also, how does President Nasheed justify Ziney Sappe's appointment? I'm curious as to what hoops you will jump through reverse-engineer an educated capable background for this guy and Mariya's beyfulhu family receiving top-notch posts while clearly unqualified to even sweep the floor at those offices.
June 9, 2009 12:11 PM
No fear 10.41,
Absolutely no way Anni can show any legitimate reason for having an MDPFF (MDP Friends & Family) package at the expense of the State Treasury. He's just giving them all an opportunity to grab as much as they can while they've still got any power.
June 10, 2009 6:31 PM
It was on the news today that more and more State Ministers are being appointed; the MDP people who failed to get votes in the election are being rewarded with an annual salary of MRf 564,000! Hmmm, how does one go about getting on this gravy train of excess?
June 10, 2009 7:48 PM
RN team; am so glad u r not carrying filth like little sappalhey. he is obsessed with perverse sex and carries fabricated stories about distinguished people. is he trying to do this to make people forget late ibrahim shihab's notorious same sex stories to protect mohammed shihab, ismail shihab and sly fox solahu shihab? no we will not forget bageechaage horror stories.
June 11, 2009 2:59 PM
Anonymous @ 7.48,
What more do you expect from a notorious wife-beater like Moakulhi Sappalhey? Those perverted sex stories on DO are his way of getting rid of his inferiority complex... I'm sure he'll be a great S&M mistress when he grows up!
June 12, 2009 11:28 AM
2.59,
I'm curious. How on earth does a tiny tit like Sappalhey beat his wife? Does he take a good long run-up, jump and hit his wife on the knee? That should be fun to see if it weren't so despicable.
June 12, 2009 11:52 AM
S&M is just the thing Moakulhi Sappey is into! He and the Shihabs should get along real well i think. And yes, we do remember the Bageechaage horrors. "balabala thijehee bolunney...!". O Allah! Will we never be rid of these ganduvarutherey beyfulhun and their servants like fookuda sappey (aka mashhoor moakulhi sappey)??
October 26, 2009 9:10 AM
kobaa tha fas madu kamun rah rashugaa thedhah nuhigey amee faisal ge khabarakee