Abdul Raheem: Faisal served with sincerity, produced results

Abdul Raheem Abdulla, the speaker of Parliament and chairperson of the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), says that his son Ibrahim Faisal, who was dismissed from his role as tourism minister earlier on Tuesday, had worked with sincerity and produced results.

Faisal had been among the original appointees to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet – on November 17, 2023.

The President’s Office confirmed Faisal was dismissed on Tuesday, but declined to specify the reason for the decision.

In a post on X Tuesday afternoon, Abdul Raheem said that he and the rest of the family were proud of Faisal.

“He served as the country’s tourism minister with sincerity and honesty. He produced results. He gained the love and trust of the industry,” said Abdul Raheem.

“May Almighty Allah give by son Faisal resoluteness and patience and bless him with a brighter future. Ameen.”

އަޅުގަނޑުގެ ދަރިފުޅު އިބްރާހީމް ފައިޞަލަށްޓަކައި އަޅުގަނޑާ އަޅުގަނޑުގެ ޢާއިލާ ފަޚުރުވެރިވަން.ރާއްޖޭގެ ފަތުރުވެރިކަމާބެހޭ ވަޒީރުކަމުގެ މަގާމުގައި ހުރެގެން ޚިދުމަތް ކުރީ އިޚްލާޞްތެރިކަމާ ތެދުވެރިކަމާއެކު. ނަތީޖާނެރެދެއްކި. ދާއިރާގެ އިތުބާރާ ލޯބި ހޯދި.މާތް الله ދަރިފުޅު ފައިޞަލަށް… pic.twitter.com/usOmqJzzub

— Abdul Raheem Abdulla (@Banafsaa) January 28, 2025

Faisal’s dismissal followed monthslong rumors of friction between the top leaders of the party – President Muizzu and Abdul Raheem – once seen as his most powerful ally, having played an instrumental role in his successful 2023 presidential campaign.

In an interview to local media outlet ‘Dhauru’, Abdul Raheem publicly admitted to the frayed ties for the first time, commenting that “obviously this wouldn’t have happened if we were on good terms.”

Faisal told Sun that he received his letter of termination in the morning, adding that the letter did not specify a reason for the decision.

Abdul Raheem – who is currently in Malaysia - also said he is unaware of what led to the decision.

He said it had been Faisal who called to inform him about his dismissal after he received the letter when he arrived at work.

Faisal told Sun that he plans on playing a bigger role in politics in the future.

“In Sha Allah, you will see me play a stronger role in politics. I am no longer with the government, right?” he said.

He said he will decide his next move after consulting with his father.

Abdul Raheem previously described his efforts to get President Muizzu to office as “the hardest but most successful” work of his long political career.

After President Muizzu took office in November 2023, he appointed Abdul Raheem as his special advisor. But Abdul Raheem later resigned from the role to successfully contest the 2024 parliamentary elections, in which the PNC won a supermajority of seats in the Parliament. It had been President Muizzu himself who recommended him to the role of Speaker of Parliament.

But the powerful role is now rumored to be at risk.