ACC inefficient, unable to stop corruption: Deputy Speaker Nazim

Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Dhangethi constituency Ahmed Nazim has opined that the Anti Corruption Commission is inefficient and has proven it is unable to stop acts of corruption.

Nazim made these comments while speaking in the debate on the bill proposed by ruling People's National Congress (PNC) MP for Felidhoo Adam Zahir to grant the President the authority to appoint President and Vice President of the Anti Corruption Commission.

Nazim said that 'no citizen believes ACC is functioning well'.

The Deputy Speaker alleged that the commission is not working as is mandated by the law. He said that the commission has not been able to look into and resolve any issues to date.

Nazim claims that people appointed to many commissions during the administration of Maldivian Democratic Party were not 'professionals' or competent, citing this as a reason why acceptable results have not been seen.

He maintains that, in order to resolve this, the President needs to be granted the authority to appoint ACC presidents, adding it is an absolute authority that needs to granted.

"We cannot stay and watch as again, corruption is left to be committed as is for these five years as well. The citizens gave us this mandate, this super majority, to reform these issues. We have not seen matters of corruption being resolved, we have not seen it being stopped," Nazim said.

Nazim said that ACC remains unaware even as various types of corruption are being committed, and many are getting wrongful enrichment. As an example, he spoke about the allegations against former Football Association of Maldives President Bassam Adeel Jaleel.

"Even with FAM's President, they only became aware at the point where he was made to vacate his residence. However, the Anti Corruption Commission exists, and yet does nothing," Nazim said.

Nazim said that in a place where corruption is rampant, it should be the President who gets to appoint he President of the ACC.