Former MP Saud Hussain has stated that corruption spreads only when leaders allow it and can be stopped when leadership chooses to act decisively.
In a post on X, Saud argued that while corruption exists in every country, its scale depends on how much space leaders give it. He noted that corruption in the Maldives has intensified since 2008, when new constitutional structures and independent institutions were established, but successive governments failed to maintain accountability.
Saud said that state budgets have continued to grow along with national debt, and claimed that corruption has played a major role in this trend. He added that independent institutions have become increasingly unable to carry out their duties due to political influence and the concentration of powers within administrations.
He argued that corruption does not originate from administrative staff, but from leadership decisions and policy directions that enable and encourage malpractice. Saud said years of deliberate actions have pushed corruption to unprecedented levels, including the awarding of high-value land, public spaces, and projects without competitive bidding.
As a solution, Saud stated that any leader committed to curbing corruption should immediately halt the 206 projects worth MVR 2.6 billion that were awarded without bidding under a presidential decree and reopen them to competitive tendering.
In a post on X, Saud argued that while corruption exists in every country, its scale depends on how much space leaders give it. He noted that corruption in the Maldives has intensified since 2008, when new constitutional structures and independent institutions were established, but successive governments failed to maintain accountability.
Saud said that state budgets have continued to grow along with national debt, and claimed that corruption has played a major role in this trend. He added that independent institutions have become increasingly unable to carry out their duties due to political influence and the concentration of powers within administrations.
He argued that corruption does not originate from administrative staff, but from leadership decisions and policy directions that enable and encourage malpractice. Saud said years of deliberate actions have pushed corruption to unprecedented levels, including the awarding of high-value land, public spaces, and projects without competitive bidding.
As a solution, Saud stated that any leader committed to curbing corruption should immediately halt the 206 projects worth MVR 2.6 billion that were awarded without bidding under a presidential decree and reopen them to competitive tendering.
