Housing Minister Dr. Ali Haidar and Higher Education Minister Dr. Mariyam Mariya were the ministers in President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's cabinet who had foreign passports, Adhadhu has learned.
Both ministers have now relinquished their non-Maldivian passports. Minister Mariya told Adhadhu that she gave up her New Zealand passport after assuming office.
At a meeting of Parliament's national development and heritage committee today, Minister Haidar said he gave up his UK passport to join the cabinet.
Parliament's government oversight committee decided today to ask the President's Office if any minister has a foreign passport before approving the ministerial appointments.
The ministers with dual citizenship lived in the respective countries for long periods.
The new cabinet is the largest in the country's history. The number of women in the cabinet is three.
Aside from the President and Vice President, the cabinet is comprised of the Attorney General and ministers tasked by the President with running various ministries.
With the exception of the President and Vice President, other members of the cabinet require parliamentary approval to confirm their appointments.
According to article 129(d) of the constitution, the President must submit the names of appointees to the cabinet for the approval of parliament within seven days of making the appointments.
