Yoosuf Maniu resigned as State Minister for Homeland Security on Wednesday after he was dismissed as Commissioner General of Customs and transferred to the Home Ministry.
Maniu was abruptly dismissed as Customs Commissioner on Monday. He was not informed of the dismissal when Deputy Commissioner Fathimath Dhiyana was appointed to the post.
Speaking to Adhadhu, Maniu said he resigned because he did not wish to take a large salary without doing any work as a state minister. As the government was planning to reduce expenditure, Maniu said his conscience could not accept appointing state ministers with a pay of MVR 45,000 for work that could be done for MVR 20,000.
"The President immediately changed me in order to do right by me, too. I don't see it as halal to take such a pay from the state without that kind of responsibility," Maniu said.
Maniu said he was surprised by his dismissal as Customs Commissioner without any notice or consultation.
"I didn't know at all. I wasn't given any sign either. That was something that surprised me as well. Everyone will know that I have done and completed many things that couldn't be done in the past 15 years," Maniu said.
Maniu said he ended the culture of expediting services for friends and relatives of customs officers and ensured equal treatment for all.
The government did not reveal any reasons for Maniu's dismissal. The President's Office said President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu exercised his powers under the Customs Act to appoint Dhiyana as Commissioner General.
Maniu's dismissal came after several of his remarks as head of customs drew widespread criticism.
Appearing before the Parliament's National Security Committee recently, Maniu said Customs wanted to destroy seized drugs within 24 hours without handing them over to the police.
Maniu also noted border control challenges at the committee meeting. Customs does not have the full capacity at present to monitor the country's borders or inspect foreign vessels that arrive in the Maldives, he told MPs.
