President to again nominate Maumoon Hameed as PG

Prominent lawyer Maumoon Hameed will be proposed for parliament’s approval for a second time, to be appointed as the new Prosecutor General (PG), President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said.

Speaking in Feydhoo, Addu City on Sunday night, President Yameen said he has decided to nominate Maumoon Hameed not because he is the his nephew, but because Maumoon Hameed is a efficient and capable individual. Maumoon Hameed is nephew to President Abdulla Yameen and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

The President's Office opened for fresh applications for the PG post for a third time on 7 May, after declaring that five applications were too few to make a selection. Speaking in Feydhoo, President Yameen said he was forced to call for fresh applications.

“The post has been announced once, twice. I proposed the name of a very capable individual. Incidentally, the name was returned by the last parliament. I want a person with the people’s trust to come to the post. I do not want, by any means, for the parliament to approve Maumoon Hameed because he is my family or my brother. I want (the parliament) to approve an experienced and trustworthy candidate,” President Yameen on Sunday.

President Yameen nominated Maumoon Hameed to the 17th parliament on 10 December last year after Prosecutor General Ahmed Muizzu resigned on 25 November. However, Maumoon Hameed was rejected by the parliament on 14 April with 36 votes. A minimum of 39 votes is required for approval.

The 17th parliament held its last session on 28 April. A new parliament, with a ruling coalition majority, is expected to take oath later this month. The government has said it will next propose a Prosecutor General to the new parliament.

Criticizing Maumoon Hameed's rejection, President Yameen said parliament cooperation was crucial for the government to provide services and implement strategies.

“I want to place people in institutions who will allow the government to implement the projects it desires. I want a member from my party to be the next Speaker of the Parliament. I don’t want a member of another party to hold my party hostage,” President Yameen told his supporters on Sunday.

Four sitting judges have also applied for the new Prosecutor General opening. They include; Criminal Court judge Muhuthaz Muhsin, two Drug Court judges Mahaz Ali Zahir and Abdul Sattar Abdul Hameed and Baa Hithaadhoo Magistrate Court judge Ummu Kulsoom Aboobakuru.