MDP chairperson: President doing ‘complete opposite’ of what’s written in his manifesto

Fayyaz Ismail, the chairperson of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has accused President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of doing the “complete opposite” of the things he repeatedly pledged during campaign rallies and is clearly written in his manifesto.

The accusations came in response to a post President Muizzu made on X on Saturday, in which he expressed displeasure over alleged politically-motivated attempts to spread misinformation regarding his pledge to establish urban centers across seven regions of the country.

މެނިފެސްޓޯގައި (ޗެޕްޓަރ 4، ނަންބަރު 12، 13 އަދި 14 ގައި) ވަރަށް ސާފުކޮށް ބަޔާންކޮށް އަދި މެނިފެސްޓޯ ލޯންޗްކުރި ޖަލްސާއިން ފެށިގެން މިއަދާ ހަމަޔަށް އެތައް ޖަލްސާއެއްގައި އަޅުގަނޑު ބަޔާންކޮށްފައިވާ ފަދައިން، ދެމެހެއްޓެނިވި ސަރަޙައްދީ ތަރައްޤީގެ ސިޔާސަތުގެ ދަށުން މާލެ އަރބަން ރީޖަން…

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) November 9, 2024

The establishment of seven urban centers is a key component of the incumbent administration’s manifesto; three urban centers to the north of Male’, and four to the south.

In response to the post, Fayyaz wrote on X on Saturday night that President Muizzu is doing the complete opposite of what he promised and is clearly written in his manifesto.

Fayyaz said that the decision to establish seven urban centers was made without consulting with the public.

އެތައް ޖަލްސާއެއްގައި ވިދާޅުވެ މެނިފެސްޓޯގައި ވަރަށް ސާފުކޮށް ބަޔާންކުރިޔަސް ވެރިކަމަށް ވަޑައިގެން ވަރަށް ގިނަ ކަންކަން ކުރައްވަމުން ގެންދަވަނީ ސީދާ ވިދާޅުވި ގޮތާ އިދިކޮޅަށް، ލިޔެފައިވާ ގޮތާ ހިލާފަށް. މިއަދު ސަރުކާރުން ހަތް ރަށެއް އާބަން ސެންޓަރުގެ ގޮތުގައި ތަރައްގީ ކުރަން… https://t.co/e5kosS545r

— Fayyaz Ismail (@faya_i) November 9, 2024

“Today, the Maldivian people are certain that the 20-year national development masterplan is being formulated in the same manner, and that he will not do things according to this plan,” alleged Fayyaz.

“Its all just blatant lying non-stop.”

The Housing Ministry announced that the urban centers will be developed in R. Ungoofaaru, B. Eydhafushi, Lh. Naifaru, ADh. Mahibadhoo, F. Nilandhoo, Dh. Kudahuvadhoo and L. Fonadhoo.

Also on Saturday, Abdulla Shahid, the president of MDP, questioned why the larger Thiladhunmathi Atoll (comprising of HA. Atoll, HDh. Atoll, Sh. Atoll and N. Atoll), as well as southern Maldives was being omitted from the plan.

އަރބަން ސެންޓަރު ކަނޑައެޅުމުގައި ބޮޑުތިލަދުންމައްޗާއި، ރާއްޖޭގެ ދެކުނުގެ ސަރަހައްދު އުނިވެފައި މިވާ ސަބަބު އެސަރަހައްދު ތަކުގައި ދިރިއުޅޭ ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ސަރުކާރުން ސާފުކޮށްދޭންޖެހޭ.

އަދި މިފަދަ ކަންކަން ނިންމުމުގައި ރަށު ކައުންސިލްތަކާއި އަތޮޅު ކައުންސިލްތަކުގެ މަޝްވަރާ… pic.twitter.com/ig3Cpirys8

— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) November 9, 2024

He said the people living in the regions deserve an explanation from the government.

 He also said that such decisions must be made after extensive consultations with local and atoll councils.

Shahid said that the purpose of the initiative should be to promote the decentralized administration of islands, and not to start administering islands from Male’.