Maumoon holds emergency meeting with senior PPM members

Leader of ruling People’s Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Maumoon Abdul Gayoom set up an emergency meeting with some senior members of PPM on Thursday.

An official from PPM informed “Sun” that those in attendance include former minister Aneesa Ahmed, and former Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer – who handed in his resignation last week.

Others in attendance include Aminath Nadhira – fired from her post as Executive Coordinator of Gender Ministry on Wednesday, and former minister Rashidha Yoosuf.

An official reason for the meeting has not been given.

A rift appeared within the party after PPM parliamentarians voted for the Tourism bill championed by President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s government, 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.

Maumoon stripped Deputy Leader of PPM, 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.

Meanwhile, President Yameen also held a meeting with some PPM council members – mostly parliamentarians at President’s Office on Thursday afternoon.