President-Elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Wednesday denied seeking to stop or slow down any project on any island undertaken by the current administration.
The denial came after the President-Elect’s Office asked the government and state-owned companies to refrain from specific activities in the transition period until Muizzu assumes office on November 17.
Some problems arose after the request was interpreted as an order to stop the work of government offices and companies. Complaints about senior officials citing the transition period and refusing to obey orders from bosses of state-owned companies were made to parliament. An oversight committee launched an inquiry into the complaints on Wednesday.
In a tweet on Wednesday evening, Muizzu said neither himself nor anyone else on his behalf has asked for any ongoing project on any island to be stopped or stalled.
Muizzu said in the tweet that he wanted to assure the public “in relation to false claims about machinery being taken out of some islands and that it is being done on my orders.”
Citing difficulties that might be caused to the incoming administration, the President-Elect’s Office asked the government and state-owned companies to refrain from 10 specific activities, including announcing new projects, making new investments and bringing changes to organizational structures or pay structures.
In line with the request, the Privatization and Corporatization Board issued a circular to state-owned companies.
The President-Elect’s Office also asked the government not to launch new projects, hire new staff or rent out places.
The government assured cooperation with the requests. But after the President-Elect’s Office said some offices were defying the instructions, the outgoing administration said in response that the government could not be kept at a standstill in the transition period.
