Parliament's Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday approved the recommendation to dismiss Central Bank Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) Governor Ali Hashim.

Deputy Speaker of the Parliament and Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim submitted the motion to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to remove the governor. The proposal was supported by Fuvahmulah North MP Hamad Abdulla.

The committee unanimously approved the recommendation to dismiss the governor after he repeatedly failed to attend the committee meeting.

Ali Hashim was given the opportunity to respond twice to the governor's removal, but he did not appear before the committee on both the days due to ill-health and was approved to give him the last chance at yesterday's meeting.

During today's meeting of the committee, the committee's chair, Maamigili MP Qasim Ibrahim, said Hashim had informed the committee in a letter that he was eager to come to the committee today as well.

He proposed a decision on the matter and also proposed to keep the committee meeting confidential, but the members decided to keep the meeting public.

He said the governor's refusal to come despite being allowed to attend the committee three days was something that the committee members should take into consideration at a time when the country was in a critical economic situation.

Nazim said the governor had been given adequate opportunity to respond in accordance with the Constitution and MMA law, but since he was unwilling to use the opportunity, the procedure laid down in the law had already been completed by the committee. Therefore, it was important to take an early decision on the matter.

"Our inaction towards the situation does not present a positive outlook from a national point of view. Our proposal stated that we want a fresh change and leadership," Nazim said.

Nazim proposed Hashim's dismissal, adding that the country needs new leadership to improve the economic status.

Edafushi MP Ahmed Saleem said that although Ali Hashim said in a report to the parliament that he had suggested measures, the governor's lack of action for not following the recommendations was not an acceptable reason.

"I propose to suggest to the President that from today onwards, he should remove him from the post and bring in someone capable of doing so," Saleem said.

Under the MMA Act, parliament can recommend to the president to remove the governor of the authority, and a final decision on the matter will be taken by a vote taken by raising the issue in the house.