MDP: The whole presidential address full of lies, deception and disinformation

Parliament’s Majority Leader, MDP MP Mohamed Rasheed Hussain (Bigey) has alleged that the presidential address delivered by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu at this year’s inaugural sitting of the parliament is full of lies, deception and disinformation.

At Monday’s parliamentary sitting, the majority party was awarded the opportunity to respond to the presidential address which was delivered on February 5^th.

In his response – MP Rasheed accused that the current administration had come to power through lies and deception. He further alleged President Muizzu, in his presidential address, attempted to lie to the people and misconstrue the reality.

“Have to sadly say that the President had not accurately conveyed the state of the nation in his recent presidential address. That the state of the nation has been misled to the public,” he said.

“The fact that important issues faced by the nation had not been highlighted. This is something that is of extreme concern to us presently,” he added.

MP Rasheed then went on to highlight some of the successes achieved by MDP’s former administration. On this note, he underscored that the administration had successfully catered to the needs of the people despite the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to producing remarkable results in terms of improving the economy irrespective of the loans withdrawn.

MP Rasheed also said it had been a decision of the former administration to stop printing money; something which the current administration has taken credit for it.

He further alleged that President Muizzu attempted to mislead the public by claiming the former administration had converted the dollars in the Sovereign Development Fund (SDF) to Maldivan Rufiyaa. In this trajectory, he explained that this was done to increase the external reserve, adding the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) had assured that the dollars needed for loan repayment would be sold.

MP Rasheed also clapped back at the President’s announcement that his administration will introduce housing loans at a lower interest rate to ease access to finances required for housing. Citing this as another attempt to construe the reality, MP Rasheed pointed out that such an initiative had already been introduced by the former administration in 2021.

The majority leader also alleged that the projects commenced by the former administration have been halted after the current administration took office. He emphasized that the current administration needs to continue the projects of the former administration at a fast pace without creating excuses.

“The President’s presidential address is filled with blatant lies. Deception and lies,” he repeated.

Furthermore, MP Rasheed critiqued the lack of mention of the social sector in the presidential address – adding that the President be held answerable over the failure while social issues related to drugs and gangs remain significantly prevalent in the society. He also critiqued the relatively low insights into the education sector in the presidential address.

The majority leader also accused President Muizzu of lying with respect to the projects of the former administration.

“Such big lies can no longer be leveraged to mislead the public,” he said.

MP Rasheed also noted that the current administration has stopped disclosing the details of state expenditures despite pledging “utmost transparency” in its undertakings. 

Referring to the block of three unregistered news websites, MP Rasheed said the act represents a dark five years for journalism