Five years in the People's Majlis
Scrutiny of government spending, protection for vulnerable workers and children, and work on the climate laws that matter most to an island nation.
2019 election, South Machangoalhi
Ahmed Haitham won the seat for the Maldivian Democratic Party on 6 April 2019, defeating the sitting MP. He was part of the MDP's historic 65-seat majority, the first single-party supermajority in the Majlis.
2,161 valid votes. Source: Elections Commission of the Maldives.
The ventilator inquiry
He questioned a minister from his own party's government, and kept going when the answers didn't add up.
- 10 Apr 2020
Ten questions to the Health Minister
He wrote formally to Health Minister Abdulla Ameen about the purchase of 75 ventilators from Dubai-based Executors General Trading for MVR 34.5 million. He asked about delays, the procurement method and claims that ventilators were in transit, after a 90% advance payment had produced only ten non-compliant units.
- 28 Apr 2020
Minister responds late
The reply arrived after the 14-day constitutional deadline under Article 74. It claimed the supplier had been recommended by the World Health Organization.
- Aug 2020
Audit contradicts the government
A compliance audit found the ministry had not followed procurement rules and that the supplier had not been recommended by the WHO.
- Oct 2020
Charges forwarded; minister resigns
The Anti-Corruption Commission forwarded charges against eleven officials, including the minister, who resigned amid the scandal.
- Nov 2020
Majlis demands review
After the Prosecutor General declined to press charges, the Majlis passed a motion seeking a review of that decision.
- 2023
State seeks compensation
The government took the supplier to arbitration for the undelivered ventilators. A Dubai court later ordered compensation to the Maldives.
Undocumented migrant workers
On 23 June 2019, at the National Security Committee, Haitham brought a resolution on the estimated 63,000 undocumented migrants in the Maldives. The total migrant workforce was between 145,000 and 230,000 people, close to a third of the resident population.
- He warned of weak border oversight and of workers' vulnerability to exploitation and forced labour.
- He cited the Maldives' place on the U.S. Trafficking in Persons "Tier 2 Watch List" for three consecutive years.
- He led follow-up sessions on the PISCES border-control system through 2019 and 2020.
The government launched a regularisation programme in September 2019. By 2023, 43,787 undocumented workers had registered, 16,351 had been regularised and 8,938 repatriated.
Protecting an island nation
Vice Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee from its first meeting on 11 June 2019.
Phasing out single-use plastics
He pushed for a ban on single-use plastics in the Majlis. His committee then brought a resolution, prompted by schoolchildren's appeals, to phase them out nationwide by 2025.
The Energy Bill
He chaired the subcommittee that reviewed the Maldives Energy Bill and returned it to the full committee in August 2020.
Climate Emergency Act
He sat on the three-member subcommittee carrying out post-legislative scrutiny of the Climate Emergency Act, which was ratified in May 2021.
Hulhumalé sewage plant
He objected to a planned sewage treatment plant whose design would have discharged untreated sewage into the sea. The committee took up the matter, and the project was stopped.
Harbour impact assessments
During review of the V. Rakeedhoo harbour project, he argued that environmental impact assessments lacked long-term monitoring data.
Pesticides in agriculture
He served on the five-member joint subcommittee reviewing the pesticides bill, which reported in November 2019.
Bills & resolutions
Five bills sponsored, plus resolutions and motions on children, health and tourism.
Presidential Elections Act amendment
Amendment to Act No. 12/2008.
Elections Commission Act amendment
Amendment to Act No. 8/2008.
Employment, legal assistance & health services
Amendments to the Employment Act (2/2008), the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act (2/2015) and the Health Services Act (29/2015).
Child protection
He called for more funding, specialist staff, training and better pay for social workers and therapists, so that trained staff stay in public service.
Emergency health-care delays
After a 10-year-old in Kulhudhuffushi died of COVID-19 following a delayed ambulance response, he called for an inquiry into negligence in emergency services.
Pre-approved visas for tourists
He proposed a pre-approved visa on arrival and an electronic travel authorisation, after 9,940 tourists had been refused entry in five years.
Victims & public health
He called for victim-blaming in sexual-offence cases to be made a legal offence. He also moved to exclude tobacco and energy drinks from a proposed cut in import duty.
Bringing citizens' voices to the Majlis
Tourism workers
As resorts prepared to reopen after the pandemic, he petitioned for a minimum share of Maldivian staff at resorts and priority hiring of locals for vacant posts.
"Change NDA 2020"
A petition signed by 1,050 people calling for better drug rehabilitation services. Committee members visited rehabilitation centres across the country.
Entry of Israeli passport holders
After the outbreak of the Gaza war he asked the Majlis for a visa and travel ban, and presented a public petition from the Rights Movement.
Committee service
- Environment & Climate Change CommitteeVice Chair, from June 2019
- Subcommittee on the Energy BillChair, 2020
- Subcommittee: post-legislative scrutiny of the Climate Emergency ActMember, 2021–2022
- Committee on Foreign RelationsMember
- National Security Services Committee ("241 Committee")Member; vice chair of a subcommittee
- Subcommittee on the Chagos Archipelago / ITLOS caseMember
- Joint Committee, Economic Affairs and EnvironmentVice chair of a subcommittee; pesticides bill
- Joint Committee, Environment and State-Owned EnterprisesMember
- Joint Committee, National Development, Heritage & DecentralisationMember
- MDP Parliamentary GroupWhip, Jul 2019 – Sep 2023
The parliamentary records behind this page are preserved in the Press Archive.