Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan has firmly rejected former President Abdulla Yameen’s claims questioning his commitment to strengthening the Maldives Police Service, asserting that the current administration is executing the most decisive reforms seen in recent years. In a strongly worded X post, the minister emphasised that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu is guiding a comprehensive transformation aimed at restoring complete public trust in the police force.
Ihusaan’s response came after Yameen, speaking at the PNF weekly meeting last night, alleged that the minister was failing to defend and empower the police institution. Yameen argued that the credibility of the service had eroded and suggested Ihusaan was unwilling or unable to lead its reform.
The minister dismissed this narrative, stating that the shortcomings within the police today are the result of neglect during the previous administration. He argued that if the former government had spent its five year term genuinely working to strengthen the police force, instead of what he described as “superficial governance,” the institution would already enjoy full public confidence.
According to Ihusaan, the current government’s five year tenure will deliver that long overdue transformation. He affirmed that by the end of President Muizzu’s term, the Maldives Police Service will evolve into a trusted institution deserving of national pride, including commendation from Yameen himself.
He highlighted that the majority of officers serve with dedication, patriotism and professionalism, and expressed pride in their work. While acknowledging areas requiring improvement, he asserted that the government is moving forward with a clear plan, confidence, and belief in the institution’s potential.
Yameen had earlier questioned Ihusaan’s ability to uphold police integrity, claiming the minister’s statements focused only on penalising underperforming officers rather than defending the service. He argued that without the police, the Ministry of Homeland Security could not function and that internal affairs of the country depended on a strong police presence.
The former President also criticised what he described as the lack of arrests of drug traffickers, despite Ihusaan’s public commitment to tackle major network leaders. He claimed that “not even minor individuals” were being apprehended.
Ihusaan’s rebuttal signals the government’s intention to firmly counter political narratives aimed at undermining the ongoing reform agenda. His post reaffirmed President Muizzu’s policy direction and underscored the administration’s message that the police institution is being rebuilt with purpose, discipline and renewed public confidence.
