How about Mr. Waheeduddeen as the new Home Minister?

1. Some say that Dr. Hassan Saeed could be appointed as the new Home Minister, after the resignation of Gasim Ibrahim. The justification used by such people is that Dr. Saeed holds a doctorate in Law and he has plenty of experience as an Attorney General in the previous government. But there are those who would be opposed to the idea on the basis that Dr. Saeed served as a Minister in Gayyoom’s regime. But the current Special Envoy of the President, Zaki, was also a Minister under Gayyoom. Dr. Saeed is an important member of the ruling coalition and he now holds the position of Advisor to the President.

2. Even if Dr. Saeed were offered this post, I do not think that he will accept it. There are many reasons why he may shy away from such an appointment. Firstly, as Gasim would testify, being Home Minister during this period would not be easy. It could even be political suicide for someone like Dr. Saeed who still holds presidential ambitions. Besides, he seems to be busy formalizing the registration of his own political party and also campaigning for the parliamentary elections coming up in February.
3. Whoever is appointed as the new Home Minister, that person needs to be mature in age and thinking, and also experienced enough to handle the pressures of the job.

4. It was observed by a few analysts that one reason why Gasim was disillusioned with the government was because he was put out of the loop even in matters that concerned his ministerial jurisdiction. For example Gasim does not seem to be involved in the political efforts for the decentralisation of power to the atolls. President didn’t take the Home Minister with him during the recent tours to Addu Atoll and Fua Mulah – and some say that Gasim wasn’t even consulted before the tour. Attending to affairs of the atolls without involving the atolls minister or meeting foreign dignitaries without involving the foreign minister are the sort of amateurish things that the new government should avoid in the future. The country or the government is not there to be run by just the president and the Special Envoy and the Cabinet Secretary and the Policy Secretary.

5. Though it hasn’t been formally announced, my feeling is that Ibra’s Liberal Party and Gasim’s Jumhooree Party are now disillusioned with the government. Gasim’s party would have now left the coalition if Adhaalth wasn’t in the Jumhooree Alliance. Ibra recently spoke at a public gathering against some policies of the government. Gasim’ cited some irreconcilable differences with the government as the reason for his resignation from the cabinet. These problems may not lead to the collapse of the government but with a parliamentary election coming up in February, MDP and the ruling coalition should know that things could get worse for them if they continue to disregard the current cracks in the coalition.

6. I think it is time that an experienced, mature and well-respected figure is appointed as the new Home Minister. How about Mr. Waheeduddeen of Bandos? (the former Atolls Minister). Being a philanthropist who loves the country, and who has experience as an Atolls Minister, Mr. Deen could be an ideal choice for the job. His role in formulating the decentralisation law also makes him able to handle one of the most important policies of the Home Minsitry at the moment!

I also think that Gasim and the Jumhooree Alliance should be appeased and (if Gasim is willing) Gasim should be given some other position in the government – perhaps as an Advisor to the President. And I would repeat again that it is time that an experienced, mature and well-respected figure is appointed as the new Home Minister. Deen as Home Minsiter? Why not!