President: Alliance with people who reject Islamic principles – unacceptable

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has commented the people will not accept dissidents from Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) allying themselves to people who openly reject principles of Islam.

President Yameen made the comment during inauguration of the main PPM station in G. A. Vilingili on Tuesday.

President Yameen said that some of the dissidents from PPM at its most vulnerable point had decided it was okay to ally themselves with the opposition. He warned that it was a mistake.

“Islamic Sharia needs to be accepted in Maldives. The call for prayer should be heard from every island. We work towards worldly progress based on these principles. Dissidents from amongst us joining people who have rejected these principles in unacceptable, even to the people of Vilingili,” said President Yameen.

President Yameen is currently in charge of PPM after court stripped PPM’s Leader, former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of his powers and transferred it to President Yameen – his half-brother.

In his speech at Vilingili on Tuesday, President Yameen said PPM wanted to work towards development and prosperity based on principles it had adopted.

He also commented that the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge under construction between Male’ and Hulhule’ was not solely for the benefit on the people of Male’, pointing out that 90 percent of the people living in Hulhumale’ – which lies connected to Hulhule’ – were from the atolls.