President Muizzu calls on opposition to join digitalization efforts to combat corruption

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has urged the political opposition to join the national digital transformation effort, emphasizing that "Maldives 2.0" is a pivotal step towards eliminating corruption and empowering citizens.

He made this remark following criticisms from opposition leaders after the launch of Maldives 2.0, an initiative aimed at revolutionizing public service delivery through digitalization.

President Muizzu reiterated that the true goal of the initiative is to enhance transparency, reduce corruption, and improve efficiency across government services.

Some leaders of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), however, have voiced strong concerns. MDP President and former Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid accused the government of using the initiative as a facade to introduce electronic voting and manipulate future elections.

In a post on X, Shahid said that the public desires human rights, accessible healthcare, and equitable development, not “lies under the name of digitalization.”

“The people do not wish for a Maldives 2.0 where justice and the Supreme Court are in question. They want a country where they can access medication and see development in their islands,” he said.

Former Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof also accused the government of laying the groundwork for election rigging through digital means.

In response, President Muizzu took to X and questioned the opposition’s resistance to a system designed to eradicate corruption," he said.

He stressed that Maldives 2.0 will put citizens in full control of their data, offering faster, more secure, and higher quality services.

He also expressed optimism that the country would see notable improvements in global rankings, including the Corruption Perceptions Index and the World Press Freedom Index as a result of this transformation.

“This is what the people want. This is the path to real progress. We will move forward with the people, and I call on the political opposition to join us in this journey responsibly,” the President stated.

At the official launch held at BarcelO Nasandhura, President Muizzu outlined his vision to see the Maldives attain developed nation status by 2040. Central to that vision, he said, is the urgent need to root out corruption embedded in the current system of service delivery, which he believes can be overcome through digital reform.