Deputy Speaker Urges Focus on National Interests Over Party Agendas

Parliament Deputy Speaker and Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim stressed prioritising public and national interests over party agendas, underlining the importance of government transparency and citizens’ trust in state-promised initiatives.

In a session of the Public Accounts Committee yesterday, Nazim remarked, “In this committee, we shouldn’t be prioritising the agendas of our parties but the state’s fiscal concerns.” He stressed the importance of conveying the country’s true conditions and status, urging the public to confront realities post-election.

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“The electoral season is now over, and as such, I want to ask the public to face the realities. Otherwise, we have some stormy days ahead of us. A proper future can only be envisioned when the Finance Ministry shows us an accurate picture,” Nazim stated.

He also highlighted the significance of addressing the state’s fiscal risks to prevent government bankruptcy and advocated seeking assistance from foreign allies for countermeasures. Drawing a parallel with Sri Lanka’s 2022 financial crisis, Nazim pointed out that international support was lacking due to non-compliance with global economic standards.

Nazim further stressed that the Maldives must be prepared to respond to warnings from international financial institutions. He cited the example of Pakistan’s central bank receiving a USD 3 billion deposit from Saudi Arabia to stabilise foreign currency reserves, attributed to adherence to World Bank and IMF recommendations.

Nazim called upon the Finance Ministry to immediately clarify potential measures to ameliorate the economic landscape for the Finance Committee, emphasising the urgency of action prior to the passage of next year’s budget. He urged the Finance Minister to appear before the committee promptly to address pertinent inquiries.

The Public Accounts Committee unanimously agreed to summon the Minister of Finance, Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq, for questioning.