The Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, has firmly stated that the Maldives 2.0 initiative is not about implementing electronic voting, but rather a necessary step toward addressing the country's widening digital gap.

In response to public criticism, Minister Saeed clarified that the initiative, championed by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, is a strategic and urgent move to modernise state institutions, improve Government accountability, and enhance the efficiency of public services. He underscored that the digital transformation agenda is grounded in practical needs, not political manoeuvring, asserting that no spin is needed, only facts.

His remarks followed statements made by former Youth Minister Ahmed Mahloof, who alleged that the launch of Maldives 2.0 was an attempt to introduce electronic voting systems and facilitate electoral fraud. In a post on the social platform X, Mahloof expressed strong opposition to the adoption of e-voting in the Maldives, claiming that such reforms would compromise electoral integrity.

Mahloof argued that the initiative was introduced under the pretext of digitising all state institutions, but with the underlying intention of manipulating election results. He maintained that traditional voting methods already allow for transparent outcomes, suggesting that presidential election results could be finalised within two hours without digital interference. He also highlighted concerns that several countries which had adopted e-voting faced accusations of vote rigging.

Furthermore, the former minister questioned whether the Maldivian Government could be entrusted with handling sensitive personal data. He called for a national conversation on the matter, asserting that the government should not proceed with digital reforms without securing the public’s confidence and consent.

Minister Saeed, however, rejected these concerns as unfounded, reiterating that digital reform is a national imperative and not a political instrument. He indicated that the Maldives cannot afford to lag behind in technological advancement, particularly in public sector efficiency and citizen service delivery.