A new deputy minister has been appointed at the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Énergy despite the government starting to implement severe cost-cutting measures due to constrained public finances.
Adhadhu understands that the new appointee at the Environment Ministry is Fazna Jaleel, president of the Netball Association.
The President's Office has not revealed the information. However, a senior government official confirmed Fazna's appointment.
Information published on the Environment Ministry website shows that there are 46 political staff at the ministry. The number rises to 47 with Fazna.
Political staff at the Environment Ministry
- One minister
- Seven state ministers
- 14 deputy ministers
- 15 senior political directors
- 10 political directors
Deputy ministers earn MVR 31,500 a month as salary and allowances.
The President's Office has not disclosed the number of political appointments despite a request filed under the right to information law. The figure was not provided when sought by journalists either. Moreover, the Finance Minister did not reveal the total number of political staff when he was recently asked at the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee.
"We are now monitoring the performance of political employees. I'll have to clarify the exact number from the President's Office," Finance Minister Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq said.
Galolhu Dhekunu MP Meekail Naseem filed a motion without notice today to debate the non-disclosure of the number of political appointees. But the motion did not pass as the supermajority of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) did not wish to debate the issue.
Speaking later in today's sitting during a debate on the fiscal responsibility bill, Meekail expressed concern over the vote to reject his motion.
"The situation facing the Maldivian people in the PNC government is that it is prohibited for the Maldivian people to know the number of people that the Maldivian pays salary for. It's secret," he said. "The PNC government is treating this information as confidential information."
Despite President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's pledge to limit political posts to 700, the number of political staff is now expected to reach 2,000.
