President: Political appointees will be dismissed if they are not working

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu states political appointees in his administration will be dismissed if they are not carrying out their work, while stressing his administration is not burdened by the number of political appointees in senior posts.

The President, in an exclusive interview to Sun on Friday, said political appointees are appointed to posts in his administration with confidence that they will carry out their work.

He expressed his wishes for all political appointees in his administration to become individuals who are serving the public, day and night. He also expressed his strong distaste for retaining individuals in political posts at high salaries for no purpose or in a questionable manner.

“I will dismiss them from their posts if they are not doing their work. They have been given the chance to work. Each and every one of them will have to fulfill the responsibilities they have been bestowed. If not, I will dismiss them,” he said.

President Muizzu emphasized producing results desired by the people as the goal of this administration.

In this trajectory, he noted that he had worked to produce results for the people during his time as the Housing Ministry and Male’ City Mayor.

“I do not wish to spend one second without feeling like I am fulfilling my responsibilities. Am working for this. By the will of Almighty, I am not tired in these efforts,” he said.

Despite President Muizzu’s remarks regarding not being burdened by the number of political appointees in senior posts; his administration has strongly been criticized for the large number of political appointees prompting huge expenditures on their salaries.

Since assuming office, 91 state ministers have been appointed to the administration at a salary of MVR 35,000 and 163 deputy ministers at a salary of MVR 47,000. Henceforth, MVR 10 million is incurred for salaries every month.

Nevertheless, President Muizzu has assured political appointees will not exceed 700.

Notably, In MDP’s administration, political appointees stood at 976 in 2021. MVR 382.9 million had been allocated for the salaries of political appointees in the state budget for that year.