Nasheed Alleges SOE Staff Pressured to Sign Petition Backing Decentralisation Bill 

Chairperson of the Maldives Democratic Party (MDP), and former president Mohamed Nasheed has alleged that employees of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are being pressured to sign a petition supporting the government-backed amendment to the Decentralisation Act, as competing petitions over the controversial legislation emerge in Parliament.

The allegation comes after a petition initiated by social activist Midhuam Saud opposing the amendment secured more than 2,300 signatures and was submitted to Parliament. The petition calls for the withdrawal of the bill, which would allow the central government to acquire land under the jurisdiction of local councils for government development projects.

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Council thakuge bin Cabinet ge ninmumakah negey gothah Laamarukazee gaanoonah badhalu genaumuge bilaai gulhigen kanbonduvumaai nuruhun faulhukoh Sarukaaru javaab dhaaree kuruvaan beynun vaa aanmu rayyithun e vanee Majlis ah petition eh hushahalhaafa. Mi petitiona gulhigen, hama…— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) August 20, 2026

According to the allegations, the government is seeking to organise a counter-petition in support of the amendment, with employees at regional SOE offices on various islands allegedly being intimidated into signing it. The e-petition section of the People’s Majilis shows that the counter petition initiated by government affiliated MPs has already reached over 7,700 signatures. 

The claims come as Parliament has opened the way for competing petitions on the same issue. Ruling party PNC MPs on Tuesday approved an amendment to the Rules of Procedure removing a restriction that previously prevented repeated e-petitions on matters already raised through an earlier petition.

The amendment, proposed by PNC Funadhoo MP Mohamed Mamdooh, allows additional petitions to be submitted on the same matter. The change came as Parliament considers opposing petitions on the proposed Decentralisation Act amendment, with the supporting petition being led by Seenu Meedhoo Council President Ahmed Shathir.

The amendment to the Decentralization Act proposed by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru would give the central government greater authority to acquire land within council jurisdictions for government development projects. Supporters say the changes would prevent disagreements with councils from delaying national development projects, while opponents have raised concerns about the proposed expansion of central government powers over council land. 

Nasheed has argued that compelling people to sign a petition under pressure could give the government a distorted picture of its actual level of public support.