President does not seem to be inclined towards cooperating with the parliament: MP Shifaq

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Fuvahmulah-Central MP Shifaq Mufeed (Histo) has said that President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik does not seem to be inclined towards cooperating with the parliament and it's committees.

Speaking at a parliament’s National Security Committee meeting today, MP Shifaq said that President Waheed’s does not seem to be willing to allow his Ministers to cooperate with the parliament committees.

“I do not believe, from the way the president’s ideas are now, that he is willing to allow any of his Ministers to cooperate with us. I do not believe. Because the Ministers are always on trips with the president. It might be that the Ministers are travelling with the president to campaign for him, that that’s the reason they don’t get any time. Proof that the head of the implementing branch of the State does not want to cooperate with us, is that he gathers the people in Artificial Beach and here and there, he is trying to mock the work of the parliament. Saying whatever he willed,” MP Shifaq said.

He said that all the parties in the country except the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has been working towards maintaining President Waheed’s government, but said that he does not feel that the president respects the parties that are trying to maintain the presidency.

MP Shifaq’s words of frustration were heard during the National Security Committee meeting yesterday, who had requested to summon cabinet ministers to clarify information regarding the bill on prohibiting the import of alcohol and pork.

A number of cabinet minister have been summoned to the parliamentary committee regarding their review of the bill on prohibiting the import of alcohol and pork. The ministers include; Home Minister Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, Finance Minister Abdulla Jihad, Tourism Minister Ahmed Adheeb, and Islamic Affairs Minister Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed. The members have revealed all of the ministers have failed to attend committee meeting thus far.