Dr. Shaheem backs Muizzu’s candidacy

Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed who presently serves as an advisor to the opposition PPM-PNC coalition has announced his decision to back the coalition’s presidential candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Shaheem, who was appointed as an advisor to the coalition in September 2020, announced his decision to endorse Muizzu via a tweet on Friday. The tweet read that he would disclose additional details regarding the matter at a later time.

Shaheem, in an earlier tweet, said he would announce his decision with respect to 2023’s presidential election on August 6^th. However, until today, he had remained silent.

The religious scholar entered the political arena as a member of Adhaalath Party. He joined PPM in 2018. Back then, he said he would remain in the party for as long as the party’s leader, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom remained in the party. Notably, he was Yameen’s running mate in 2018’s election, as then-president pursued a second term in office. 

Shaheem served as the State Minister for Islamic Affairs during former president Mohamed Nasheed’s administration – and was promoted to minister during Yameen’s administration.

He played an integral role in the formation of the Islamic University of Maldives, where he served as the chancellor till his resignation on November 15, 2018.