Parliament committee changes decision, will reveal Muraidhoo staff details

Security Services Committee of the Parliament (241 Committee) has reversed its decision from earlier today, and has now decided to reveal staffing details of the Speaker's official residence Maafannu Muraidhoo.

This decision comes after Mihaaru News journalist Asima Nizar requested for the information last July. It has been reported that the reversal was requested directly by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

However, the Committee's Chairperson Ahmed Saleem (Redwave Saleem) said during the 16:00 hrs meeting that the decision to now reveal the details was made at the discretion of the Chairperson.

Contrary to the morning meeting which was held behind closed doors, the afternoon meeting was open, where the letter sent to the Committee by the Parliament was also made public. In the letter, the Parliament said that multiple requests had been submitted to the office requesting details of the employee names, designations, and changes in employment structure at Muraidhoo.

It further said that they seek the Committee's opinion on sharing the details as it may post a risk for the Speaker. The letter also shared previous precedents set in response to such requests, detailing that only employment classifications and salaries were shared in the past.

Parliament also wrote that according to the office, similar information regarding the President's official residence Muliaage and the Vice President's residence Hilaaleege are also not shared with the public.

In response to the letter, ruling party People's National Congress (PNC)'s Parilamentary Group (PG) leader and MP of Inguraidhoo constituency Ibrahim Falah proposed to disclose the information during the evening session, which was seconded by Kelaa MP Abdulla Shareef.

However, it was also Falah that proposed that the information be withheld, during the morning meeting.

The decision to disclose the staffing details of Muraidhoo was made with votes from all committee members except opposition party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s MP of Hanimaadhoo constituency Abdul Ghafoor Moosa (Gapo).

With this decision, the initial decision from the morning session has been nullified, Saleem announced.

MP Ghafoor protested reviewing the decision made in the morning session, claiming it cannot be done without a valid reason. He also said this was in violation of the Committee's regulations. However, PNC members did not agree with his stance, with the Chairperson in favour of the PNC members as well.

The reversal also follows the rejection of a proposal by Maldives National Party (MNP) MP for North Maafannu constituency, Mohamed Nazim, to disclose information, excluding details related to security concerns and staff names or backgrounds.

The current Chief of Staff at Muraidhoo is veteran journalist 'Mundoo' Adam Saleem. Maldives' star footballer Ali Ashfaq (Dhagandey) was also hired to the residence as a Director General.