Opposition MDP has criticized the Saudi Embassy statement which had praised the First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim's Sadaqah Foundation for their initiative in distributing the dates given by the Saudi Government. A statement released by the Party said the statement had only supported and boosted the corruption festering in the country.
MDP statement said the First Lady is a highly political figure. The Party said when the First Lady's Sadaqah Foundation distributed the dates donated by the Saudi Government as part of their donations for Ramadan, the purpose of this donation had been besmirched the purpose of the donation. The statement said while Maldives was a fully democratic nation and as such, having the Saudi Embassy endorse this move was not acceptable.
"The MDP would like to note that, as a Constitutional democracy, there are laws and regulations on the distribution of foreign aid and gifts, and the Saudi Embassy comments are seen as an encouragement of the First Lady’s actions contravening these Laws. Saudi Embassy comments, which are seen as an echo of the Maldives Government’s defence of these actions, come at a time when the Anti Corruption Commission of the Maldives has stated they will investigate the matter," the statement said.
The Saudi Embassy statement, published on the Foreign Ministry's official twitter account, said the Embassy was proud of the initiative spearheaded by the Sadaqah Foundation in distributing the dates. The statement said the First Lady is a higly active in social services, including serving the poor, needy and the differently-abled and therefore, having the NGO associated with the First Lady distribute the dates was not an issue.
