The administration of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu is placing unprecedented emphasis on direct public consultation in shaping national policy, according to recent remarks by Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources. Speaking at a gathering of the ruling People’s National Congress, Minister Shiyam said that every decision taken by the president is fundamentally designed to serve the public interest.
One of President Muizzu’s first acts upon assuming office, he said, was to close legislative loopholes that had allowed constitutional amendments to be enacted solely through parliamentary procedure, bypassing the requirement for a public referendum. Minister Shiyam stressed that securing the direct consensus of the citizenry on matters of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and public welfare remains a central priority for the executive branch. He described the president as a leader who works closely with the people, noting that the administration has consistently refrained from finalising major policies without first gauging public sentiment.
Minister Shiyam acknowledged that strong government measures, including the prohibition of vaping products and increased taxation on cigarettes, have provoked dissatisfaction among business interests and organised pressure groups. He defended the policies as courageous executive decisions essential for safeguarding the health of future generations. He added that interventions in the foreign exchange market, though sharply criticised, were deliberately enacted to accelerate the nation’s economic momentum.
Reflecting on the government’s broader developmental agenda, Minister Shiyam underscored a commitment to swift operational execution. “Our primary objective is to advance government-led development projects at an accelerated pace, effectively halting the previous decline in the nation’s progress,” he stated. “Through all these initiatives, it has become evident that the president remains fully committed to executing any action that yields tangible benefits and financial prosperity for the citizens; this is the undeniable reality.”
Minister Shiyam also pointed to the administration’s unprecedented decision to solicit public opinion on consolidating presidential and parliamentary elections into a single voting day. He argued that synchronising the elections would yield clear civic and administrative benefits for the electorate. Yet, he noted, no preceding government had ever attempted to seek the public’s perspective on such a foundational structural change. In the past, constitutional amendments of this magnitude were executed entirely through parliamentary majorities, deliberately excluding the voices of the Maldivian people.