Umar: Maldives failed to develop with Singapore due to corruption, will eliminate it

Maldives failed to develop while Singapore achieved progress and prosperity despite the fact that both countries regained their independence at the same time due to the prevalence of corruption in Maldives, states presidential hopeful and former Maldivian home minister, Umar Naseer.

Speaking at the official launch of his presidential election campaign at Sultan’s Park in the Maldivian capital on Friday night, Umar noted that both Maldives and Singapore regained independence in 1965.

He said that while Singapore had seen rapid development since then, Maldives stayed behind.

The difference between the two countries is corruption, he said.

Umar vowed to eliminate corruption in Maldives, and turn the country towards “a completely new direction”.

“We had been spending on securing political votes. We reclaim land, but then keep the land untouched for some 20 years. The land is reclaimed in conjunction with elections, and then keep the land unutilized. Therefore, we haven’t been spending to the best interests of this country, but for political votes,” he said.

Umar said that Singapore’s GDP per capita had been USD 220 and Maldives’ USD 150 at the time of independence, while Singapore’s GDP per capita now stands at USD 60,000 while Maldives’ stands at USD 10,000.

“Singapore enforces their laws. They don’t toy with their laws. Secondly, they destroy corruption. The heads of state aren’t allowed to be corrupt. Thirdly, the state spends on developing human resources,” he said.

Umar believes the failure to eliminate corruption has led to Maldives being years behind in development.

Umar said that any country where corruption is widespread will not attract foreign investors.

He asked the Maldivian people to vote for him to eliminate corruption and establish Islamic Sharia in Maldives.

‘I WILL GET IT DONE, EVEN IF I HAVE TO CUT MY LEFT HAND WITH MY RIGHT’

Umar said that the two biggest political parties in Maldives have both been elected to office with the power to change laws, but failed to establish good governance.

He said that Maldives now needs “a leader who is brave enough to cut his left hand with his right” if necessary.

“It’s the same if you vote for a scale or a tray. It will not produce any change,” he said.

“Maldives needs someone with energy to work 12-hour days. That is what this country needs. This country needs a leader who is hardworking enough that he wears his tie and goes to the office at 06:30 in the morning. This country needs a fearless, law and order candidate who would cut off his left hand with his right, without looking at someone’s face or back,” he said.

Umar said he will establish Islamic rule in Maldives, and will maintain freedom of expression to the level permitted under Islamic Sharia.

He said that saying whatever and whenever does not constitute exercising freedom of expression, and that journalists would be required to swear an oath of honesty during his administration.

“PARLIAMENT IS TOO LARGE, MUST BE DOWNSIZED’

Umar said that the Maldivian Parliament is far too big for a country of its size, and that Maldives does not need 87 parliamentarians.

He said that he would downsize the Parliament to 50 members.

“We will revise the constitution. If the Parliament obstructs this, we will select a special Parliament. The Maldivian Parliament must have no more than 50 parliamentarians,” he said.

Umar believes parliamentarians shouldn’t be allowed to take side contracts while in office. Alleging that parliamentarians are bribed with uninhabited islands and contracts to secure votes, Umar said he was the only candidate who can eliminate the corruption. He said that no political party must be allowed to force parliamentarians to vote a certain way.

Noting the lack of mechanism to dismiss parliamentarians who lose public confidence, Umar said he would introduce recall vote so parliamentarians who no longer hold confidence of their constituents can be dismissed.