Possible for the country to change depending on election result: Maumoon

Former President and the President of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has said that the it is possible for the country to "not remain the same", depending on the result of the September 7th presidential election.

Speaking at a function held in Nasandhura Palace Hotel last night for the former president to meet Maldivians who completed their higher education in Egypt, Maumoon said that the election “is not a political test, but rather a national test.”

He said that it is crucial for the country to pass this test, as it is likely to determine the extent to which Islam will prevail in the nation. He said that a presidential election is more about the nation than about its politics and asked the crowd vote by treating the election as a matter of national responsibility.

“The result of this election may prove to cause a lot of changes in the Maldives. It is possible that Maldives might not remain the same,” the Egypt’s Al-Azhar University graduate stated.

Maumoon said the PPM presidential candidate Abdulla Yameen alone has the capability to protect Islam in the country, and to protect the country’s traditions and way of life.

“I am not telling you this because I am the President of PPM, or because the candidate is my half brother. Not because his name is Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. I am telling you this because of the gravity of the matter,” Maumoon said.

Maumoon, who was recently awarded the The Most Honourable Order of Distinguished Rule of Ghaazee, the highest honour given by the Maldivian State, said that the democratic institutions in the country have failed to perform their duties and that a strong leader is needed to maintain stability in the country. He said that this can only be accomplished by Abdulla Yameen and his running mate Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed.

The meeting last night was attended by approximately 30 Maldivians who had completed their studies in Egypt and students who are currently studying in the country.