Villingili MP Mohamed Ismail has alleged that successive administrations led by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) utilized state commissions and offices as vehicles to distribute funds and employment to political allies.

Speaking during a parliamentary debate on a resolution submitted by the MDP to protest the 33% reduction in staff at state-owned enterprises (SOEs), MP Mohamed argued that the creation of various presidential commissions was a calculated strategy to benefit party loyalists rather than the public.

The lawmaker specifically highlighted the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, claiming that over 10,000 employees were added to SOE payrolls during his five-year term. He argued that this expansion exceeded the financial capacities of these companies, leaving them in a precarious state.

“The Deaths Commission, the Asset Recovery Commission, and the Ombudsman’s Office were all established, yet none of these institutions delivered tangible benefits to the citizens,” Mohamed stated during the session.

Addressing the current administration’s decision to downsize the SOE workforce, the MP noted that while the government avoided layoffs for over two years, cost-cutting measures have become unavoidable. He emphasized that many SOEs have reached a point where they can no longer function without heavy state subsidies, necessitating urgent reforms to ensure fiscal sustainability.