ACB is an institution which hides corruption –Shihab

23 November 2007
Report: Ayya

MP for Male’ Mohamed Shihab has said that Anti Corruption Board, ACB, is an institution formed by the government to hide the corrupt acts of government officials. He made the comment, speaking at the debate time opened to discuss the report on the ACB and the Board’s activities, prepared the by the Internal affairs Committee of the Special Majlis.

The report says the Committee started reviewing the ACB’s Annual Report of 2006, on the 11 March 2007. Although the ACB’s Report talks about a list of complaints received to the Board, such a listing is not included and that these complaints lists were not included in the last 2 year’s report submitted by the Board. Although the listing of the complaints was eventually provided to the Committee up on the Committee’s insistence, the complaints listings lacked information and substance.

As the Committee had a constitutional authority to demand information from any government agency, the Committee had to make a second request to the Board to furnish this information. However the Board failed to furnish the required information as such the Committee decreed that the Board violated article 136 of the Majlis regulations.

Mohamed Shihab, the Chairman of the Financial Committee of the Special Majlis said while the rest of the government agencies have provided information needed by the Committee, Anti Corruption Board, ACB, provided little information.

President’s Member Imadh Solih said that at a time when all concerned is talking about the introduction of a modern democracy, government agencies should be more open in providing information.

Chair of the Committee on Internal Affairs Ibrahim Ismail said when the matter was forwarded to the President’s Office, Aneesa Ahmed, Presidents Office Minister had replied to the Committee that according to the President, government employees cannot be forced to provide information as there is no specific Law on summoning officials to the Majlis. He further said as the Majlis is the People’s Majlis, and in the same manner as other officials in charge of government ministries and department are questioned, officials in charge of commissions too can be questioned by the Majlis.

“If we cannot question those misappropriate of government funds and if there is no way we can find out why such activities are going on then what is the use of this Majlis” Ibra questioned the Chair. He further said if there is no way the Majlis can get to the bottom of these corruption issues; then “I don’t want to be any part of this Majlis” said Ibra.

At yesterday’s session Ali Waheed, MP for Raa Atoll was sent out of the Majlis for disobeying the Chair.

MP for Dhaalu Atoll said that in many of the areas involving the people government regularly uses striking names like Anti Corruption Board.