The Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Ahmed Nazim, has delivered a speech at the first Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Asia and South-East Asia Regional Conference. The conference was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif. In his speech at the CPA regional conference, the Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Ahmed Nazim, highlighted the fundamental characteristics of good governance. He emphasized the importance of transparent decision-making, accountability to the people, maintaining a free media environment, and upholding democratic principles, calling on members of parliaments from member countries to maintain these aspects.

Furthermore, he stressed the importance of strengthening institutional integrity, freely exchanging information, and providing opportunities for consultation, urging special attention to these matters.

“Let us use this conference to share our experiences as parliamentarians, strengthen the democratic institutions in our countries, ensure media freedom, and work towards finding robust solutions needed for establishing good governance. The meaningful changes that will emerge from our discussions will not only impact our own countries but will undoubtedly have positive effects on the entire region,” said Ahmed Nazim.

Nazim further stated that the increasing populism in the political arena, the spread of misinformation, and the challenges facing democratic principles are matters of great concern. He called for community-level action to address these issues. Additionally, he highlighted in his speech the challenges such as economic disparities, security threats, terrorism, and the negative impacts on good governance due to international relations faced by countries in the region.

The CPA Regional Conference is an important meeting where delegates from parliaments of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association member countries in the region come together to align views and strengthen cooperation between legislatures. The conference discussed ways to address issues and challenges facing the world and the region.

The Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Ahmed Nazim, was elected as the Regional Representative for the CPA Asia Region at the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) held in Sydney, Australia.”

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced that the parking buildings planned to be built to alleviate the parking problem in Male’ will be constructed with the assistance of the Indian government. In his Presidential Address to the People’s Majlis, President Dr. Muizzu said that to solve one of the biggest problems in Male’, the parking issue, it has been decided to build environmentally friendly parking buildings powered by renewable energy in four areas of Male’ with the help of Indian concessional financing or low-interest loans.

“I am happy to note that work is underway to start the practical work of this project this year,” the President said. Providing parking space in Male’ is one of President Muizzu’s presidential pledges. While parking buildings are being constructed in Male’ with Indian assistance, the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has previously announced the opportunity for interested parties to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) to develop 15 parking buildings in Hulhumale’.

These parking buildings are a project being carried out to solve the parking problem in Hulhumale’ and to arrange for vehicles to be parked safely. These parking buildings will also include commercial units.

Member of Parliament for Baarah Constituency, Ibrahim Baarah Constituency, Ibrahim Shuja, has given a strong response to the statements made by MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, saying that they will not allow the principle of jungle law to become commonplace in this country. The MDP has been repeatedly stating that the change of government on February 7, 2012, was through a coup.

On the 13th anniversary of that change of government, Fayyaz posted on X, saying that the overthrow of MDP’s first government through a coup 13 years ago was the biggest attack on Maldivian democracy in recent history. Fayyaz said it was a day when people’s trust in the system of governance and state institutions was lost, and significant damage was done to the journey of democracy.

“The people’s empowerment prevailed over that coup through the brave efforts of many in a fearful environment. We will remain unwavering in our work to ensure people’s empowerment,” Fayyaz said. In response to that post, Shuja said that 13 years ago, when leaders became tyrannical towards the people, sold public property at low prices, looted the state, misused the opportunity given by the people to run the government, and spent the days of governance in collective night-time drinking and merrymaking, it was not a coup when people came out and took back the power they had given.

Shuja also said, “When they sobered up, they came out and set fire to state property, destroying the semblance of a state.” Shuja said they will not allow the principle of jungle law to become commonplace in this country.

Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture Ahmed Shiyam has stated that looking at the arrangements made in the first year, the manifesto, and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s Presidential Address, it is clear that the Maldivian fishing industry will be taken to another level and develop many times over. Speaking at the Ministers’ Forum, Shiyam said that even in the difficult situation the country faced, President Muizzu brought good arrangements in the first year to diversify and develop the fishing industry. He added that the President has brought an order on how to find funds and do these things, and this year will be the year of implementation.

“As we begin to implement this year, all presidents have said that we cannot benefit by exporting raw fish from the Maldives. All presidents know this. Some presidents say [fish] should be canned. Some presidents say we need to add value, increase processing capacity. We all, all governments, accept this. However, we are on a culture for achieving political goals.” Shiyam said.

Shiyam said that previously, the money available for the development of the Maldivian fishing industry was given as subsidies. He said that the biggest benefit from subsidies is not to Maldivians. Shiyam said that the biggest benefit from subsidies goes to foreign fishing companies. Shiyam said that when fish priced at 17 rufiyaa is raised to 25 rufiyaa, about 13 rufiyaa is given as a subsidy, and for the approximately 72,000 tons of skipjack tuna landed at MIFCO in the Maldives annually, more than one billion rufiyaa is spent on subsidies.

He questioned how they would spend on the infrastructural needs of the fishing industry.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that work has begun to bring revolutionary change to the ICT sector. While delivering the Presidential Address at today’s session of the People’s Majlis, the President said that increasing the ICT sector’s contribution to 15% of the country’s GDP by 2030 and providing the benefits of the digital economy to Maldivians is a work that the government is carrying out with special importance.

He said that the government has begun important work to bring revolutionary change to the ICT sector. In this regard, he noted that extensive discussions were held and decisions were made in the Cabinet last week. These include strengthening technology governance, introducing a digital identity card, building a data sharing platform, and strengthening cybersecurity, among many other things.

“Yes, my first trip abroad this year was also a very important trip to pave the way for this,” the President said. He stated that although e-Fass has been developed as a digital ID in the Maldives, it has not been developed to meet international standards and best practices, nor has its architecture been strengthened. Therefore, he said that this area also needs to be developed and advanced to meet international standards. In this regard, he said that an open data sharing platform needs to be developed and the entire system needs to be structured so that all government services can be accessed through applications that provide services through digital identity. He revealed that he wants to bring this modern, big digital revolutionary change to the 21st century Maldives.

The President highlighted that the results of these efforts will be making it easier to eliminate corruption, making government policies more transparent to people, and saving time wasted on submitting letters and other forms. Therefore, the status of matters can be checked through a specific system, and the work being done by the government will be visible instantly. He said that even if someone accesses or changes one’s personal records, one will have the satisfaction and assurance of being able to instantly view the full information.

“This digitalization system will not be established in a particular office or institution. It will be in all state institutions. In one way. To one standard. I want to make such trusted, convenient, modern methods that are advanced in the world a part of the lives of beloved Maldivian citizens,” the President said. He stated that this four-year project will be successfully implemented with the support and assistance of the government and state institution heads and employees, and all beloved Maldivian citizens.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that 25% of the special concessional loan scheme of 100 million rufiyaa, introduced to encourage women to enter the business sector, is reserved for women with special needs. While delivering the Presidential Address at the People’s Majlis, President Muizzu said that this government will develop the country without leaving anyone behind. As such, the President said that women’s advancement, empowerment, and creating opportunities for them is a high priority for this government.

“25% of this special loan scheme will be reserved for women with disabilities. The second phase of this loan scheme will be implemented this year, God willing,” the President said.

In the first phase of the special loan scheme, loans have already been disbursed to 60 recipients. The President noted that this scheme was introduced to encourage women to enter the business sector, and it is an important step towards increasing women’s economic participation and empowering them.

Introducing a “Startup Loan Scheme” specifically for women is included in the government’s 14-week roadmap.

This includes designating a special area in Hulhumalé for selling products made by women and arranging convenient business facilities within the first 63 days. The government has arranged to finance through the “Fatha Madadhu” loan for female entrepreneurs who face difficulties in obtaining services from conventional banks due to lack of guaranteed income. Through this, loans ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 rufiyaa will be disbursed to these individuals, with a seven-year repayment period. The interest rate for this loan will be 6% per annum.

Additionally, the 14-week roadmap includes arranging easy facilities for female entrepreneurs seeking leasing finance, establishing a special system for marketing and trading locally grown products with special opportunities for women, and launching a special program to increase the number of female employees in the tourism sector.

The Controller General of Immigration, Mohamed Shamaan Waheed, announced today that they have decided to provide passport services every Saturday in Addu City, starting from this coming Saturday. Speaking on the “Ahaa Bunaanan” program broadcast by Voice of Maldives and TVM, Shamaan said that the decision to provide passport services on Saturdays in Addu City was made in accordance with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s directive to increase service hours and provide quick and convenient services to citizens from closer proximity.

Until now, passports were issued in Addu only on official weekdays. No passport services were provided on Fridays and Saturdays. Expanding the service of quickly providing National Identity Cards and passports to citizens throughout the country is an important policy of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. Under this policy, he inaugurated the work of expanding this service nationwide on November 16th of last year.