Wednesday
8th May 2024
Dhivehi Edition
Government expenditure
Ruling party MP’s son’s cushy job as Third Secretary nets MVR 150,000 a month
Fazeel Hussein.
Disclosures have shown that son of Hussain Shameem, a Member of Parliament from ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), nets in over MVR 150,000 (over US$ 9,772.92) a month.
Mohamed Fazeel Hussain serves as Third Secretary at the Maldivian Embassy in Germany. He was appointed in January 2020.
Just prior to his appointment to the position, MP Hussain had given a resort to staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A private citizen had filed case in Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). It is not known if the Commission had investigated the case.
Based on the information disclosed, Fazeel stands to earn MVR 1.8 million (US$ 117,275.04).
Fazeel in Berlin
- Breakdown of total pay package
- - Basic salary: MVR 95,160 (US$ 6,199.94)
- - Ramadan allowance: MVR 3,000 (US$ 195.46)
- - Special allowance to the post: MVR 147,662 (US$ 9,620.59)
- - Commuting allowance: MVR 148,032 (US$ 9,644.70)
- - Dependents allowance: MVR 1,141,327 (US$ 74,360.65)
- - Other allowances: MVR 227,930 (US$ 14,850.28)
- - Total pay package: MVR 1,813,111 (US$ 118,129.26)
Fazeel is the highest paid Third Secretary in all of the Foreign Service. While Berlin, Germany is an expensive city to live in, it is not the most expensive one. Brussels, Belgium tops the list. However, the pay given to the Counselor at the Maldivian Embassy in Belgium pales in comparison to the amount Fazeel is paid.
Fazeel has no experience in international diplomacy. A senior official spoke to Dhiyares on the condition of anonymity. The official said there were many more individuals with the right qualifications for the job.
“There are young individuals, who had studied political science, IR, and diplomacy from reputed universities. They are not given this opportunity,” the official said.
It is speculated that Fazeel had got the position due to his father’s close connection to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Shahid. He is a close associate, regularly visiting Shahid in the US, while Shahid serves his term as the head of United Nations General Assembly.
MP Hussain has been known to frequent Minister Shahid’s residence when the latter is in the country. Both regularly crop up on each other’s social media posts.
It is estimated that around 80 percent of Missions, Embassies, High Commissions, and Consulates are filled with individuals who have no qualifications or experience for the job. Those individuals have close ties, including familial ties, t0 the President, Cabinet Ministers, and Parliament Members.
Fazeel has no experience in international diplomacy. A senior official spoke to Dhiyares on the condition of anonymity. The official said there were many more individuals with the right qualifications for the job.
“There are young individuals, who had studied political science, IR, and diplomacy from reputed universities. They are not given this opportunity,” the official said.
It is speculated that Fazeel had got the position due to his father’s close connection to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Shahid. He is a close associate, regularly visiting Shahid in the US, while Shahid serves his term as the head of United Nations General Assembly.
MP Hussain has been known to frequent Minister Shahid’s residence when the latter is in the country. Both regularly crop up on each other’s social media posts.
It is estimated that around 80 percent of Missions, Embassies, High Commissions, and Consulates are filled with individuals who have no qualifications or experience for the job. Those individuals have close ties, including familial ties, t0 the President, Cabinet Ministers, and Parliament Members.