Maumoon: Laws being compiled in violation of Constitution

Leader of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has remarked that laws in the country were being compiled in violation of the Maldivian Constitution.

Speaking during the function held on Wednesday night after inaugurating PPM Leader’s headquarters, Maumoon said that the Constitution was the supreme law, and that no law can be compiled in violation of the Constitution.

He condemned the amendment to Maldivian Constitution allowing foreigners ownership of Maldivian land.

“Our land. Maldivian land. The Constitution has been amended so that the land of people of Maldives can be owned by foreigners. This shouldn’t have happened. Our Maldives is a small place. We do not have many rich resources. Our land and our lagoons are our riches. What will happen if it is sold to foreigners? The whole country is being sold. This is not something the people of Maldives will stand for,” said Maumoon.

He condemned the decision to allow foreigners to own land in Maldives without an open bidding process. And said that it would lead to corruption.

He said that amendments to the law was increasingly constricting political freedom, while it should be opened up.

Maumoon said that freedom of speech and freedom of gathering was the constitutional right of every individual, but that that too had been constrained by the amendment to the law on freedom of gathering.

He also expressed concern over the bill to disqualify candidates who lose the primaries from competing in State elections; which is currently under consideration in People’s Majlis.