Abdul Raheem: Maumoon cannot “hijack” PPM

Deputy Leader of People’s Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem has said that the party’s Leader, former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom cannot “hijack” the party.

Speaking to press outside President’s Office after a meeting between some members of PPM council and President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Thursday, Abdul Raheem said that the party’s council was its most powerful body, and that Maumoon could not enforce his authority over the party like that.

“I don’t believe a single person can hijack the entire party, Maumoon cannot do it either,” said Abdul Raheem.

He said that Maumoon would not be allowed to put the activities of the party on the hold. And that they were trying to find a peaceful solution to the problem.

No details of the discussions with President Yameen have been made available.

Maumoon stripped Abdul Raheem of his powers on Wednesday night, taking over the management of the party.

He also ordered that no meeting by any official body of the party – including any committee – should be held without his permission.

The changes came after PPM parliamentarians voted for the Tourism bill which gives Ministry of Tourism the authority to lease islands, lagoons and land for tourism without an open-bidding despite Maumoon’s request that they reject the bill, saying it was detrimental to the development of the country.

Only two PPM parliamentarians, Maumoon’s son MP Ahmed Faris and MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim voted against the bill.