Government did not discuss the issue of granting consent for ministers: PPM

The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has said that the issue of granting parliament consent for Minister of Transport and Communication Ameen Ibrahim, Attorney General Aishath Bisam and Minister of Gender, Family and Human Rights Aishath Azima Shakoor was not discussed with PPM by the government.

Speaking at a press conference at the PPM Office this afternoon, Interim Vice President of the party Abdul Raheem Abdullah said that the fact that the government did not discuss this matter with PPM shows that the government also does not wish to grant consent to these three ministers.

Abdul Raheem said that PPM’s priority is winning the upcoming presidential election, and Abdullah Yameen could not participate in today’s vote because he had to travel to the atolls for his campaign.

“At a time when presidential election campaigns are ongoing, the fact that the government did not discuss the matter of granting consent to ministers, shows that the government also does not want to grant consent for them,” he said.

Abdul Raheem said that the government also did not discuss the matter with PPM on the day the issue was first put on the parliament agenda.

“The issue was first put on the parliament agenda on the 27th of last month. The government did not hold any discussion on that day, didn’t even ask how it was. No discussions were held this time either. They didn’t contact me or any other of our members to obtain consent,” he said.

Abdul Raheem said that a three-line whip was issued to state that all members present at the parliament at the time of voting should vote in favour of granting approval for the ministers, but some members voted against this three-line whip.

He also criticised Umar Naseer, who earlier lost the PPM primary election, and President Dr Mohamed Waheed’s running mate Ahmed Thasmeen Ali.

“I can say with confidence that Umar Naseer has no credibility when it comes to politics. This has been proven. He first contested in the presidential election of 2008, and received even less votes than the void votes. He also failed in the primary election. So he’s not seen by them as a political figure,” he said.