The opposition has responded to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's annual address at the Parliament.
In his capacity as the minority leader, Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem from Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) read out the response to the address at Wednesday's Parliament sitting. In his response, Saleem described the President's address as a 'political' address and said it did not accurately reflect the country's current situation. He said the content of the address was not well thought out and lacked planning and said it was irresponsible to deliver such an address.
'Most of what he spoke of in his address cannot produce results; it lacked planning and long-term vision; they are empty words, fictional talks. It was very irresponsible,' Saleem said.
The minority leader touched on what the President said regarding religion, housing issues, corruption, and Indian military personnel in the Maldives.
'The people have lost their trust in the government; they are disheartened. The state has become a nest for corruption while [the President] has said there is zero tolerance for corruption. The people's living standard is falling with each passing day. The wealth promised for the people is not entering their pockets, and more trouble and anxiety is caused to them,' Saleem said.
Saleem called on the President to resign from his post so that a government that has the capacity to protect the country's religion, values, and independence, and meets up to the peoples' expectations, can be established.
