The Parliament, on Tuesday, has given the vote of approval for the 20-member cabinet appointed by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
While more than half of the cabinet was approved with 70 out of 72 total votes, five ministers were unanimously approved.
Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resource and Agriculture Zaha Waheed
Minister of Housing and Urban Development Aminath Athifa
Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof
Minister of Environment. Dr Hussain Rasheed Hassan
Attorney General. Ibrahim Riff’ath
Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid
Minister of Defence and National Security Mariya Ahmed Didi
Minister of Finance and Treasury Ibrahim Ameer
Minister of National Planning and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam
Minister of Higher Education Dr Ibrahim Hassan
Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen
Minister of Communication Science and Technology Mohamed Maleeh Jameel
Minister of Education Dr. Aishath Ali
Minister of Transport Aishath Nahula
The cabinet member who garnered the least votes was Minister of Gender, Family and Social Services Sidhatha Shareef. While 67 Parliamentarians voted in favour, 2 members voted against her appointment.
The positions of Minister of Heritage Yumna Maumoon and Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla were secured by 68 votes. Minister of Tourism Ali Waheed received 69 votes in his favour.
Both Fayyaz Ismail Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail and Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Ahmed Zahir attained 71 votes of approval, however the latter also received one negative vote.
All parliamentarians who debated on the report presented by the Parliament’s Accountability Committee agreed that it was important to grant approval to the cabinet and ensure that ministers diligently carried out their duties. They also stressed that the ministers must be held accountable for any impotency in this regard.
Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed who is also the head of Parliament’s Accountability Committee asserted that the ministers were capable and stated that they should fulfil their duties within the bounds of the law.
Additionally, Thinadhoo North MP Saudulla Hilmy and Kulhudhufushi MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa emphasized that the parliament would not hesitate to hold cabinet ministers responsible for any corrupt or illicit activities
While the committee in charge of investigating the cabinet also granted approval, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is currently investigating issues related to two cabinet members. The two ministers in question are Tourism Minister Ali Waheed and Housing Minister Aminath Athifa.
The cabinet was formed according to proportions agreed between president Solih and the coalition leaders prior to the presidential election. Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) accounts for 40 percent of the cabinet, Jumhooree Party (JP) accounts for 25 percent while Adhaalath Party accounts for 15 percent. The Maumoon Reform Movement (MRM) constitutes 20 percent of the cabinet
The 19-member cabinet sworn in on November 17 is the largest in Maldivian history, and features the highest proportion of female ministers thus far, several ministers have come under harsh criticism from the public