Motion on MMPRC issue rejected by Majlis

The motion filed by opposition party – Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) – over Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption scandal has been rejected by People’s Majlis.

The motion, filed by Addu-Meedhoo MP Rozaina Adam said that there was no confidence the Inquiry Commission set up by President Abdulla Yameen to probe the MVR 1.22 billion corruption scandal would be independent and fair, and to therefore set up an open inquiry.

39 members voted to reject the motion, while 22 members voted to accept the motion.

The one and half hours provided for debate regarding the motion was spent in the midst of heated exchanges between government and opposition members including allegations of theft and treason.

During the debate, North-Mafannu MP Imthiyaaz Fahmy said that holes had appeared in the two most important institutions of the government – treasury and armory – during President Abdulla Yameen’s administration.

Ruling party – Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) members said that Majlis wasn’t a place for investigations, and that the investigation into the issue had been initiated by President Yameen, and was ongoing. And that anyone who had committed treason would be punished, and that no one could escape the long reach of law during court process.

PPM members also accused MDP of trying to hide theft of government income by former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb from MMPRC. And that President Yameen would not have initiated investigation into the matter if he had been involved.

PPM members said that they did not accept motion filed by Rozaina as an actual motion.

“Even I believe that everyone who was treasonous with MMPRC money should be sent to a prison cell. Relevant authorities are investigating the matter,” said PPM Parliamentary Group leader, Vilimale’ MP Ahmed Nihan Hussein Manik. “MDP is working behind the people who committed the theft.”

PPM members questioned why MDP did not try to investigate the theft and treason committed during former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration if they were truly against such crimes.

Kinbidhoo MP Abdulla Riyaz said that the MMPRC case was huge criminal offense planned by top level government officials, and that the perpetrators should be brought to justice.

Maradhoo MP Ibrahim Shareef (Mavota Shareef) said that MMPRC case was not the biggest act of corruption in the country, and that corruption involving previous national fish company, FPID was far greater.

And that members needed to leave their political rivalry behind and work for greater good of the country in order to prevent such crimes from re-occurring.

In the midst of heated exchanges, Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) member, Hoarafushi MP Mohamed Ismail said that MDP member had taken the money stolen through corruption, and that it had been he who had gone to hand them all the money.

The worst of the allegations by PPM members were directed at former PPM member, MP Ahmed Mahloof.

They said that there was no greater thief than Mahloof, and that it had been he who had taken the most of the money.

Audit report on MMPRC, released on February 5 says that MVR 1.22 billion from money that went into MMPRC had gone to private bank accounts.