Malsha Shareef, a former Deputy Minister who resigned earlier this month following an eight-month suspension, has been rehired as an Assistant Director at the state-owned Housing Development Corporation (HDC). The reappointment, which comes with a compensation package nearly equivalent to her previous salary, has sparked renewed controversy. Malsha confirmed that she underwent an interview process and was selected for the position at HDC.

This development comes just days after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, speaking at Princeton University in the United States, commented on the incident, stating that no one should be allowed to make such remarks, and asserted that the matter had been “dealt with.”

Malsha, along with Mariyam Shiuna and Mohamed Mahzoom Majid, had served as Deputy Ministers at the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts. The trio was suspended in February this year for making derogatory comments about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referring to him as a "clown" on social media. The incident escalated into a diplomatic rift between India and the Maldives, triggering a backlash and calls for a tourism boycott against the Maldives. Despite their suspension, all three continued to receive full salary packages throughout this period.

The controversy resurfaced when Malsha and Shiuna announced their resignations on September 11, just before President Muizzu’s planned visit to India. While the President claimed at Princeton University that disciplinary action had been taken, the swift reappointment of Malsha to HDC has raised questions over the adequacy of the government's response.

The latest development raises concerns about the government’s accountability and whether the resignation and subsequent reappointment accurately reflect the seriousness of the issue, given the diplomatic fallout caused by the remarks.