Emergency motion on FENAKA debt issue kicked out of parliament

Ahmed Saeed Mohamed (L), Managing Director of FENAKA and Ahmed Shareef (R), Managing Director of STELCO, the two government utilities companies of Maldives. | Photo: Shareef
Ahmed Saeed Mohamed (L), Managing Director of FENAKA and Ahmed Shareef (R), Managing Director of STELCO, the two government utilities companies of Maldives. | Photo: Shareef

Malé, Maldives – The oppositions emergency motion in the case of debts owed by FENAKA to various local companies has been kicked out of Parliament today.

Maduvari MP and PNC Vice President Adam Shareef moved the emergency motion saying that FENAKA owes more than MVR 2.8 million to companies and small businesses.

The motion stated that because FENAKA was not paying to these smaller companies, the lack of money is causing financial difficulties, employees are not being paid and that small businesses are going bankrupt.

There are also complaints of non-payment of dues by FENAKA, which provides electricity, water and sewerage services in majority of the islands of Maldives. He also added that people had protested in front of FENAKA head office yesterday over the non-payment.

Some private companies have also expressed their dissatisfaction in front of the FENAKA office yesterday, saying they are not paying their bills.

Adam Shareef said that although the financial situation of FENAKA has reached that level, it is used to influence political issues and elections. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has also been informed of the corruption in the transactions, he said.

His emergency motion called for expeditious payments to small businesses and companies and a management and financial audit of the company to investigate the cause of the increase in debt.

Eighteen MPs voted to kick the motion out of parliament without going for debate over it while 15 members voted in favor of debating. The emergency motion needed 17 votes to pass.

According to local media reports, FENAKA owes MVR 1.8 billion to STO alone. The company’s outstanding bills include 2019 oil bills. The FENAKA has not paid any bills to STO since 2021 till date.