PCB warns public companies over destroying paperwork

Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) has warned public companies it will not hesitate on taking action against any company found disposing materials or documents unlawfully.

PCB's warning has come after Fuel Supplies Maldives (FSM) was recently criticized for its 'unorthodox' manner of destroying company documents at the industrial island of Thilafushi.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) earlier requested PCB to interject attempts made by public companies to wipe confidential documents.

In a statement released on Wednesday, PCB revealed that they had received multiple complaints from public and ACC as well regarding FSM's disposal of documents.

The agency has urged public companies to refrain form destroying any of their official documents in a manner that contravenes the regulations, urged management at the companies to ensure that in the instance disposal of an official document is necessary, to ensure it is done according to the regulations.

"We will be taking legal action against any company found destroying official documents in violation of the regulations," PCB said.

Under the National Archives Act, public companies have to first attain the permission of the Director General of National Archives before destroying any official document, photographs, charts or other material.

National Archive recently said FSM was destroying its documents illegally, and warned it will take legal action against the state-owned enterprise (SOE). FSM has meanwhile said that the documents seen being destroyed in the video are old and irrelevant, and had been kept in storage for a number of years.