Officials from the President’s Office have participated in a hearing held by the Information Commissioner’s Office (iCOM) following an extended period of avoiding iCOM hearings. This marks the first time in months that representatives of the Mohamed Muizzu administration have attended such proceedings, addressing a case filed against the President’s Office regarding its refusal to comply with the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The case revolves around an RTI request seeking details about President Mohamed Muizzu’s expenses during his visit to China in January. A concerned citizen filed the complaint, alleging that the President’s Office had withheld crucial information. iCOM’s latest statistics reveal that a disproportionate number of cases related to unresponsiveness to RTI requests are linked to the President’s Office.
During the hearing, Information Commissioner Ahmed Ahid Rasheed highlighted the President’s Office’s consistent refusal to address RTI requests and its avoidance of iCOM hearings. Responding to Rasheed’s pointed questions, the President’s Office Information Officer, Aishath Aqeedha Hassan, clarified that they now intend to respond to RTI requests promptly within the stipulated deadline.
Despite this development, concerns persist among the media and the public. The President’s Office and other government ministries continue defying the RTI law by evading queries submitted through RTI requests. One contentious issue is the number of political appointees under the Muizzu administration.
While President Muizzu pledged to limit political appointments to fewer than 700, the opposition alleges that over 2,000 individuals have been appointed to various political positions. Most of these appointees are affiliated with the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).
