With November 11th drawing closer, the most talked about issue in all corners is the composition of the cabinet. To be blatantly honest without being specific; I am quite disappointed with some of the names that I have been hearing.
This is what I think.
First, this is a Presidential form of government. The mandate lies with Anni. I was never a fan of a coalition although I can understand why there was a need for one. With a coalition in place, it brings in all the cons of a parliamentary system along with it. Thankfully the government will not fail per se even if the coalition fails, although it will be very hard to govern since MDP has lesser parliament seats compared to others coalition members.
Second, Anni has stated in a press conference that the manifesto to be implemented during his term will be the MDP manifesto and not that of any other coalition member. When the cabinet is in place, wouldn't they be the ones in charge of implementing the manifesto and if so, wouldn't MDP 'backed' Ministers be in a better position to implement it?
In any case, MDP is the leading coalition member (with the most support in the first round) and therefore, with its manifesto being implemented; key ministries such as Finance, Trade, Tourism and Home should be filled by MDP backed people. How it happens in reality remains to be seen.
Thirdly, cabinet portfolios should not be a reward for campeign participation/financing. They should go to those who are best qualified for the job. Anni's manifesto is what that gave Anni the mandate to rule and his cabinet should be his choice of people whom in his view can best implement it.
I sincerely hope this is the case.
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18 comments:
The list of names in the cabinet now are highly suspect. Gasim seems to have grips over the key ministries. I just hope for anni that he will be able to sustain his image as the savior of this nation from dictatorship. With gasim even in the remotest form of control, many many things can go wrong. with the independent media and various govt bodies. i am in serious doubt that Anni's choices for cabinet will deliver the level of fairness that alot of voters gave in their votes unconditionally amidst all the risks. I say we really need to strengthen our media and other bodies to ensure that the people's opinions about Anni's cabinet choices are clearly heard, understood and held accountable.
Home Minister - Gasim
Defence Minister - Ameen Faisal
Health Minister - Aminath Jaleel
Housing and Transport Minister - Aslam
Fisheries Minister - Didi
Finance Minister - Ali Hashim
Trade Minister - Sarangu Adam Manik
Education Minister - Musthafa Luthfy
Tourism Minister - Sawad
Foreign Minister - Shaheed
Justice Minister - Jameel
Youth and Sports Minister - Hassanko
Sarangu Adam Manik !! WTF !!!
Sarangu Adam Manik is modern day Idi Amin in the making. Don't let that happen people.
I see that some key ministries have been given to coalition members, perhaps Anni has no choice but to, given MDP's strength in the Parliament.
Appointing Amin Faisal as the defense minister is a total atrocity against the Nation. He confessed that he knew about the NOv 3rd incident and did not inform. This will ruin Anni's name
anni can't please everybody. but it will be wise if when he assigns portfolios he should not give a post to a person who was in that office before. for example, majority of staff at foreign ministry don't want dr shaheed as their new minister. it is because of the way dr shaheed behaved towards staff earlier. because of his cronyism. so if anni has to give him a post, then give him something like Fisheries Ministry. Likewise, if Dhiyana has to be appointed to the cabinet, it should not be as Attorney General. Because the staff at AG Office doesn't like the way she was given promotions before. dhiyana as AG will destabilise AG Office. Same thing will happen with Dr Shaheed as foreign minister. Assigning tourism to Sawadh is a mistake. Even if Jumhooree Party wants 3 cabinet posts, they should not get tourism. Why? Because most leaders in Jumhooree Party are from tourism industry. So if they can control tourism ministry then it will lead to conflict of interest. Just two nights ago Sawadh was having coffee at Salsa Cafe with Dr Shaugee and Mr Waheed from tourism ministry. Don't you see the links already? Sawadh will be corrupt to the bone. Even if Dr Waheed's party wants 3 cabinet posts, Dr Waheed should come up with someone better than Sarangu Adam Maniku. Just because Sarangu played an important role in the campaign, he shouldn't be gifted with a cabinet post.
I swear Anni would not have won the 2nd round if we knew this was the way he was going to rule. Seriously, WTF!!! I think the best advice i can give Anni is to go out of town, chill out, come back with a clean head. I think the fog near hilaaleege from theemuge is affecting his brain cells.
i think those who voted for the "sake of change" is now feeling real stupid. This cabinet smells and tastes all a bit familiar.
I dont think anni had a choice though, winning the parliament maybe one thing, but with these incompetent folk in cabinet, will any good come out of it? Gasim n all his extra baggage is now with his ppl in key ministries.if anni can be coerced prior to his election n if this is the deal that was made then, does this mean all anni was after was the presidency?
n how confident is he in bringing change as detailed in the manifesto? How can he influence anything if others can demand so much?
SCARY!the entire nation so exposed, could this be the ultimate rape of the nation!
if Gasim was a mindless gorilla, which situation would you prefer: Maumoon feeding the banana to the gorilla Or the gorilla feeding bananas to anni. looks like gasim has got the banana now.
Amin Faisal may not be the right choice for Defence Minister but he was in the US for training when Nov 3rd happened and where did he confess he knew about it? His name is not even in the book that President's Office brought out on Nov 3rd which lists all the people who were either involved or knew (potential and actual) about the event such as Pilot Naeem and Umar Jamaal.If he knew about the event than surely his name would be on it when everyone else's name was on it.
i think mdp is perhaps taking things for granted. This is a turning point in the history of Maldives. If this coalition breaks and fails to deliver the many promises to the public, i doubt that many maldivians with very little civic education and the lack of sophistication to appreciate a modern democracy will ever trust this system once again. Maldivians are known to revert back to history, from republic to sultanate to avoid complications. We might go back to a republic from democracy too. and a properly appreciated multi party democratic system may not come again for decades. Anni is expected to be very bold! if not i doubt he will be able to manage this critical transition. if it is pulled off, it will be a first in the history of the world.
after reading this article, i hunch that alot of new faces will appear in this parliamentary election.
heres why..
I think the public is generally aware of what is happening with the coalition, via word of mouth, SMS, facebook, blogging, radio and TV news conferences with the man who romanced rajiv gandhi for 18 hours on d phone while tamil terrorists burned down his garage...anyway...
i believe the most naive and the most informed amongst us, DO NOT want a heavily divided parliament, but most CAN swallow a broken coalition, given that the right and the competent people ultimately take the cabinet posts instead of the "trophy winners of participation" in this coalition,as you have appropriately put.
As a result of this change in the wind that i predict may take place, new faces "backed or blessed" by MDP or Anni, will likely get good votes from the same people who voted for the sake of change. those voters will not back down in feb 09.
Ofcourse Anni wont win the entire parliament, then he would become the ganja smokin version of that old dude we threw out couple of days ago, but i feel Anni will be able to get a good majority.
My prediction again is, come Feb 09, popular vote will be to ensure that the parliament "works" for Anni n mdp, in return paving way to execute the mdp manifesto without hindrance...
No matter how much money is thrown into the cesspool by Hassan Saeed and the BIG FOOTS behind him, or even if Mr.Magnetic breaks coalition with assmongus (dhiyana) and the side kick humpty goatee (suvaadh)....public will once again prevail n vote for the sake of change in Feb 09 to ensure that everything stays in working order.
That is how i see this. I hope the owner of this blog does not mind the innuendos written about certain distinguished members of the nation...if so please keep duly posted
The cabinet is appointed to serve the president achieve his goals for the country. I believe Anni should appoint the best candidate for the job. That means dumping gasim and his corrupt baggage at the curb> Dr. Shaheed and jameel should also be sidelined. I really don't care if it was a coalition that they say won. ANNI and Dr. Waheed were the only names on it next to the MDP logo.
From MDP candidates, only Dr. Didi looks like the rotten candidate. All the others are very capable and respected. I do believe they will do a good job. i think Maizan Adam Manik or Solah Shihab will be a good Trade Min. Dr. Mausoom (forget he is Drp, he will get the job done) or Mujthaba will be a good choice for Tourism. Ali hussain Didi will be ideal home minister. And finally Mr. Shahdy Anwar for AG!
P.s. i am not an MDP member and mulled over many a day, thinking of voting for Anni in the second round. I probably will not vote again for him, but i do want a stable and prgressive five years with HEP Mohamed Nasheed.
HEP M.Nasheed will be a good and respectable opponent for MDP in the next election. but i hear he is going off to study, so most likely he will be absent during anni's first 1-2 years. having said that, if anni pulls this thing off, there will be alot of support for an mdp endorsement and it will be easy to claim that nasheed is just trying to bring back the old regime or to supply the blood money to the royal family where ever they could be in 5 years. nasheed will have to disassociate with maumoon's drp as much as possible if he is to win. maybe throw out the old antiques and innovate a nEW DRP. to what extent he can bring a reform to drp is very subjective in my opinion...then again..isnt everything subjective these days eh...
the right honorable MSA will get my vote anyday for AG of Maldives. but i think MSA's golden era is yet to come.
An MP is more like it for now..dont you think so sir Shahdy...i hear you are contemplating...is this true?
Anonymous @ November 4, 2008 10:56 AM
Interesting points you raise there regarding the Feb 09 elections. That can certainly make or break the plans Anni might have for this term. We shall see.
A@ November 5, 2008 10:54 AM
If that is in fact the case, I will surely count on your vote! Heh.
HEP Nasheed is His Excellency President Nasheed. Never meant Kutti Nasheed. I am hoping for a stable and progressive government under anni nasheed for 5 years. NO mid terms please!
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