Abdulla Yameen

Abdulla Yameen
File:Abdulla Yameen presidential campaign cropped.jpg
Personal details
Born	Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom (1959-04-21) 21 April 1959 Malé, Maldives
Political party	Progressive Party of Maldives
Alma mater	American University of Beirut Claremont Graduate University

Abdulla Yameen (Template:Lang-dv) is the Minority Leader of the People's Majlis, the legislature of the Maldives as an elected Member of Parliament for four successive terms from 1993 onwards. He has represented constituencies in the Atolls of South Miladhunmadulu and Mulaku. In this period Yameen took charge of key legislations affecting the area of trade and commerce. He was also noted within the People’s Majlis as a strong proponent of introducing the current multiparty system of democratic governance practiced in the Maldives. Yameen was also the main proponent of enfranchising youth by lowering the minimum voting age to 18. As Chair of the National Security Committee in the People’s Majlis, Yameen oversaw the successful completion of important legislation related to public safety such as the laws related to combating gang-violence and other violent crimes.

In addition to his political career, Yameen spent a large part of his life as a community organizer in Machchangolhi Ward an administrative district of Male’, Maldives) where he was raised. During his tenure as Machchangolhi Ward Chief, the district was recognized for hosting popular cultural events and for the high quality of education provided by community-based private school Ahmadiyya. After a few years in People’s Alliance (PA), a political party he helped form, Yameen left to join the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) in 2010. He has served as the head of PPM’s Parliamentary Group since the party’s formation and currently occupies the post after being elected to it at PPM’s first Congress held between January 17 and 19, 2013. Yameen has also announced intentions to contest PPM’s presidential primaries in order to run for Maldivian presidential election, 2013

Early Life and Education

Yameen was born on May 21, 1959, in the capital City of Male’, the Republic of Maldives. His father is Abdul Qayyoom Ibrahim, a former Attorney General. His elder brother Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom served as President of the Maldives between 1978 and 2008. Yameen got his primary and secondary schooling in Maldives at Majeedhiyya School. After completing his higher secondary education, Yameen pursued higher studies in Beirut, Lebanon where he received his Bachelors in Business Administration from the American University of Beirut. Yameen later completed postgraduate studies in the field of public policy at the Claremont Graduate University in California, USA.

Major Achievements in Government Service

Yameen first entered government service as a Land Surveyor at the Ministry of Home Affairs. It was through his service in the area of trade and commerce that Yameen distinguished himself. As the Chair of the Board of Directors at the State-Owned State Trading Organization Plc (STO) and State Electric Company (STELCO), Yameen steered both companies into becoming vibrant and profit-making entities. His contributions were integral in turning State-Owned airline, Island Aviation Services (IAS) into a reliable and profitable venture. Additionally, in the field of aviation Yameen played a leading role in introducing air-taxi services to facilitate domestic air transport between the islands of Maldives. Among his notable achievements, from 1988-2001, Yameen oversaw the successful completion of oil exploration activities conducted in Maldivian territory. Yameen is also widely acknowledged as a major proponent of trade reform. He initiated the reform of the legal framework with relation to commerce and also helped modernize trade policy. Yameen played a key role in building confidence in the Maldivian foreign investment regime. During his tenure he oversaw the accession of Maldives to the World Trade Organization (WTO) as well as the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) of the World Bank Group. Under his leadership the government drafted and submitted crucial pieces of legislation such as laws related to import/export, consumer protection, negotiable instruments and other trade-related statutes. Yameen is also credited for spearheading the abolition of the quota on imports in the largely import-dependent economy of the Maldives. His achievements also include the introduction of the first Import Duty Code based on the Harmonized System.

Spearheading the Development of State-Owned Companies

In 1993 Yameen took over at the helm of the country’s main energy provider, STELCO, which was known under a different name at the time. During that period STELCO was facing severe resource difficulties, in terms of skilled labor and materials. Yameen’s first decision was to improve finances at STELCO and spend on building human resource capacity. Under Yameen’s initiative STELCO trained engineers and management professionals who were vital in shaping the future of the energy provider. With the improvement in administration and management, Yameen direct STELCO to spend more on increasing material resources as well. This resulted in a considerable increase in energy consumer confidence as well as STELCO’s capacity to provide electricity. Yameen also spearheaded the corporatization of STELCO into a state-owned company. Under his leadership STELCO developed into a revenue-earning venture which paid regular dividends to the State. Keeping STELCO’s focus on service Yameen directed the company to decrease electricity prices on two separate occasions. Improved financial management under Yameen meant that STELCO was soon able to construct an office complex titled “STELCO Building” without having to resort to loan financing. Yameen also introduced annual staff awards for high performance as well as a system of paying out bonuses to staff from company profits. Placing the emphasis on staff welfare Yameen made sure that STELCO provided for career development through a merit-based system. Under Yameen’s leadership STELCO, implemented several important electrification projects in the capital city of Male’ as well as the outer islands. These projects include the Third and Fourth Power Plans conducted in Male as well as the Heavy Fuel Project carried out to control electricity prices in response to spike in global fuel prices. Further projects include the “Outer Island Electrification Project” which saw the establishment of powerhouses in several populated islands for the first time. During the same period that he oversaw the development of STELCO, Yameen had also accepted the post of Chairman on the Board of Directors at the State Trading Organization (STO). At that time STO was a very different company after having been stripped of its most valuable asset, MIFCO, which was the only foreign income earner for the company at the time. The State-Owned STO had also lot its market share in the fuel trade to private parties. The company had been fast losing its market position and floundering without a strategic plan to direct its businesses. Due to these and other reasons STO was failing to stabilize consumer prices in the Maldives which was the primary function for which it was established. After taking over Yameen directed the preparation of a strategic business plan for STO. His initiatives include streamlining STO’s product portfolio, providing credit facilities for construction companies and SMEs and identifying areas for further collaboration between STO and the private sector. Under Yameen’s leadership studies were also carried out to pinpoint areas where imports could be substituted. Yameen also direct the formation of several new businesses under STO’s main umbrella. These businesses improved the overall health of the company and brought STO to its current level as one of the major players in Maldives. The subsidiary businesses established under Yameen’s leadership include STO Maldives (Singapore) Pvt. Ltd., Maldives Gas Pvt. Ltd., Maldives Structural Products Pvt. Ltd., Fuel Supplies Maldives Pvt. Ltd. and the Maldives National Oil Company. Under Yameen’s leadership STO began the Government Employees Credit Scheme which allowed average Maldivians to own electric and electronic appliances for the first time thereby reducing the gap between facilities available to the rich and the poor. Yameen also oversaw the sale of STO shares to the public in with the government’s privatization policy. STO was also then the first company to follow a code of corporate governance before compliance was made mandatory by the Capital Market Development Authority.

Legislative career

Yameen first entered Parliament as an elected Member of the People’s Majlis in November 1993. Since then, he has continued to serve 3 successive terms and is currently serving his 4th term as the MP for the Mulaku constituency. As the leader of the second largest voting bloc, Yameen is also currently the Minority Leader of the People’s Majlis. His legislative career is marked by his instrumental role in shaping all legislation related to trade and commerce between 1993 and 2012. His efforts were instrumental in shaping trade-related policy through legislative reform. Yameen was also a strong proponent in the People’s Majlis of introducing the current multiparty political system to the Maldives. He was also the main proponent behind the enfranchisement of Maldivian voters by lowering the minimum voting age to 18. As Chair of Parliament’s National Security Committee, Yameen has overseen the successful review of several laws related to combating the pressing issues of gang violence and violent crime.

Family Life and Community Service

Yameen is married to his wife for 27 years with 3 children. Although he has maintained a low-profile in his early adulthood, Yameen displayed social consciousness as a community organizer in the district of his birth. As Ward Chief of Machchangolhi Ward (an administrative district of Male’ City) Yameen helped promote cultural activities and community-based services there. During his tenure Machchangolhi hosted the popular Jumhooree 30 Carnival and Jumhooree Malaafaiy events which were attended by large numbers of people from Male’ City. Machchangolhi Ward also won all Handicraft Exhibitions conducted at a national-level during the period. The Ward also received recognition as the leading district for the development and promotion of community services. Most notably it was during Yameen’s tenure as Ward Chief that Ahmadhiyya School (the main community-based private school located in Machchangolhi Ward at the time) was listed in 1994 as the top school based on academic performance. Since then Ahmadhiyya School continues to excel in its performance till date.