The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has called for the immediate removal of Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, amid allegations of his involvement in a membership fraud scandal.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the MDP accused Minister Ihusaan of orchestrating a scheme to steal personal information from Maldivian citizens to boost the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) membership count. The opposition party claims this was a deliberate crime, citing evidence from the Elections Commission (EC) and admissions from the PNC itself.
The controversy began when the EC flagged invalid membership forms submitted by the PNC. While the ruling party attributed the issue to difficulties verifying the authenticity of submissions from various sources, the MDP insists the actions were premeditated.
The MDP condemned Minister Ihusaan for his alleged role, calling it a betrayal of his oath to protect the Constitution and citizens’ rights. The party highlighted that photographs circulating publicly show the Department of National Registration’s resources and staff being used under the minister’s supervision to recruit members for the PNC.
“This is a disgraceful act of stealing personal information from citizens who trusted the government with their data,” the MDP said.
The party also expressed concerns about Minister Ihusaan’s ability to oversee a fair investigation, given his authority over the Maldives Police Service. They stressed that he must step down to ensure impartiality.
The MDP has urged the Maldives Police Service and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to launch full investigations into the scandal. They also called on the EC to halt the registration of any membership forms submitted by the PNC until the matter is resolved.
The opposition emphasized that Maldivian citizens seek government services with the expectation that their personal information will remain confidential. “Using state resources to commit such uncivilized and treacherous acts destroys public trust in the government,” the MDP warned.
The MDP concluded by urging the government to take immediate steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. They also reiterated their demand for Minister Ihusaan’s removal to protect the integrity of ongoing investigations and restore public confidence in state institutions.
The allegations have sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning the PNC’s handling of membership registration and the broader implications for data security in the Maldives.
