Yameen: State-owned companies gone haywire

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has stated that state-owned companies are engaging in activities outside their designated mandate, describing them as having ‘gone off the rails’.

Speaking at the Wake-Up rally held at the Artificial Beach in Male' city by Yameen’s party, the People’s National Front, on Thursday evening, Yameen said the government had turned all the companies into a ‘shell’ and that they were now ‘despondent’.

Referring to some government companies, he said the Waste Management Company (WAMCO) is trying to enter the tourism industry and the Maldives Airports Company (MACL), the parent company of the main airport, has started running gyms in the atolls. Along with that, Yameen described the Road Development Corporation (RDC) as a ‘shell’ without any money.

He also criticized the fact that honorary retirees of the military are taking over companies accused of corruption and having no money.

“Now only retired generals are fit to do anything, the orthopedics department is headed by a retired general, Ali Zuhair does not think about any of this, there is no capital and no money, but the largest projects in the country are handed to them,” Yameen said.

Criticizing the RDC for being entrusted with the construction of hospitals and health centers in the atolls, Yameen said the companies are going ‘off the wheel’ because the ‘big cog’ had broken down. He is believed to have referred to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu as the ‘big cog’.

He also questioned which institution is running properly now.

“Everything is dysfunctional; courts are not running, ACC is not running, and the Auditor General is asleep, don't even know if he exists. The same goes for the Prosecutor General. With all these rising allegations of theft and corruption, no one is taking action to clear anyone of these accusations,” former President Yameen said.

He said the prosecutor general should direct the police and the ACC to investigate various allegations of money and corruption, and criticized the management of the companies.

Meanwhile, the government has been criticized by the public for awarding projects to state-owned companies without regard to the company's mandate.