Ministers' public forum to be held tonight

The government has decided to launch a public forum at 2030 hrs tonight where members of the public can engage in discourse and ask questions to ministers.

Communications Minister at the President's Office, Ibrahim Khaleel, said that the first session of the event titled "Ahaa," organized by The President’s Office in collaboration with Public Service Media (PSM), will be held at Sultan Park tonight. During this session, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions to five ministers.

The Ministers participating in tonight's forum are the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed; the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed; the Minister of Social and Family Development, Dr. Aishath Shiham; the Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation, Abdulla Rafiu; and the Minister of Construction and Infrastructure, Dr. Abdulla Muththalib.

Khaleel emphasized that the public is encouraged to ask any questions they may have to the five ministers, making the program entirely open to public participation.

"The audience will also have the chance to ask questions. We will consider questions through phone calls, social media, and even from the public," Khaleel said.

The forum is one of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's presidential pledges for his administration with the aim of engaging closely with the community and carry out its responsibilities as transparently as possible.

"These are public forums. The public can ask ministers participating in the forum any question they wish during that time. Two months later, the next batch of cabinet members will engage in a public forum. We will hold a public forum every two months with five cabinet members in each session," said President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu during the swearing-in ceremony of Malé City's new Mayor, Adam Azim.

He emphasized that ministers are open to any questions from the public during these two-hour sessions.

President Dr. Muizzu previously announced that the Ministers will hold public forums every two months to inform and update the public on the government's initiatives and answer direct questions from the public. He also said he would meet with the community in the same manner and hold a forum to address their concerns every three months. The first forum to question the President is slated for next month.

"We will continue to work closely with the people in this manner. We will not have any unanswerable questions. What we are doing is the work entrusted to us by the people, the constitutional duties. There is nothing to conceal, nothing unknown, and nothing for which responsibility cannot be taken," he said.