Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihsan has stated that the former Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath was responsible for recommending compensation to the Malaysian company that developed the Expat Online System, utilized for the recruitment of foreign workers to the Maldives. Minister Ihsan's remarks were prompted by inquiries from Parliamentarian Ibrahim Nazil regarding the government’s allocation of USD 449,237 for the establishment of the Expat Online System without prior justification.
Minister Ihsan clarified that the Malaysian company initially sought USD 13.7 million in compensation, alleging that the Maldives government failed to comply with the terms of their agreement concerning the Expat Online System. He noted that the company had communicated with the previous administration through eight letters addressing this matter.
The minister further disclosed that the company's legal representatives had sent four letters to the Maldivian state requesting financial restitution and are preparing to initiate legal proceedings against the state. Minister Ihsan indicated that the former Attorney General had advised the commencement of the compensation process, leading the President's Office to direct the Maldives Immigration and Economic Affairs Ministry to take appropriate action.
The Expat Online System, maintained by the Malaysian company, was designed to provide essential services, including medical assistance, to Bangladeshi workers. However, in 2019, the previous government suspended the repatriation of foreign workers from Bangladesh without consulting the service provider, which prompted the company to seek compensation in 2022, according to Minister Ihsan.
Additionally, the minister highlighted that the current government's agreement with the Malaysian company is expected to generate USD 58.6 million, a substantial increase from the USD 39 million previously received from the Expat Online System.