The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) activist Ali “Smith” Hashim was appointed as a senior executive staff of the Tourism Ministry.
Smith’s appointment comes after Speaker of Parliament Former President Mohamed Nasheed was criticized for stating that not all who campaigned for MDP will get government jobs.
However Smith’s appointment was welcomed coldly by both sided of the political spectrum because of his notorious past.
Smith was arrested last November in suspicion of attacking an opposition party senior member. But he was released after pressure from party members.
He was also arrested for threatening former member of parliament Ibrahim Falah. Smith was also arrested in the wake of the beheading of parliament member Dr. Afrasheem Ali in 2012.