Govt stalls fast-track license registration amidst application controversy

Maldives Transport Authority has said that it will not be issuing new registration forms on Saturday for the “Ehlakin Mashah License” (license in one go) programme, which allows citizens to take the driving practical and theory exams on the same day.

Instead, it would serve the tokens it was unable to process Friday night, the transport authority had said.

On Friday, hundreds of citizens queued outside Huravee Building in the capital Male, where the transport authority had set up its registration centre for individuals who wanted to fast track their license procedure, which currently takes up to a week.

Interested candidates were to submit the registration form for the programme, along with their driving license application forms. Additionally, an ID copy, a photograph and a stamp was to be submitted along with the forms.

The expedited license procedure bears no additional costs; except for the theory exam and license card fee.

However, after the applications opened Friday night, controversy arose after applicants complained of “unnecessary” and “irrelevant” questions on the registration form for the programme.

Applicants were asked to give details of their social media accounts, including Twitter and Instagram, as well as their Viber and WhatsApp numbers, on the forms. It also asked the applicants if they were married, divorced or widowed.

Discontent citizens were quick to allege on social media that the “Ehlakin Mashah License” programme was another campaign strategy by the government for incumbent President Abdulla Yameen’s re-election bid in the presidential election slated for September.

They noted that the programme was even named after “Ehlakin Raees Yameen” – a campaign slogan used by ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) during its recent rallies.

Further, in the promotional tweets sent out by the Ministry of Economic Development for the programme, it had used the ‘Raees Yameen 2018’ hashtag and pictures of the president, activists on social media pointed, claiming that it was misuse of state privileges.

Some had even raised questions whether the Anti-Corruption Commission should intervene.

Responding to the backlash, the Deputy Minister of the economic ministry Abdullah Mohamed said that personal information such as the social media details asked on the forms, was to run awareness programmes for the youth.

He also said that the ministry would be using it to keep the public informed and updated on changes to ministry regulations.

“We have no intention of using this data for campaigning,” Mohamed assured. “It is purely to keep the citizens updated on traffic regulations.”

He also claimed that the programme was not named after the president’s campaign slogan, and said that it connoted the same meaning and was relevant to the programme.

He said that it was difficult to find a phrase that was not being used by some other party for its campaigns.

“’Ehburun’ (meaning ‘in one round’) is also used by a particular party. So it’s hard to find an original phrase,” economic ministry’s deputy minister added, taking a jab at former President Mohamed Nasheed’s campaign slogan for his 2013 presidential bid.

The programme initiated by the government includes issuing licenses for all types of vehicles including heavy-duty pick-ups and lorries.

The transport authority revealed that the programme would be continued in the atolls as well.