President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayoom has called on the Parliament Members of Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) for unity and move towards progress instead of criticizing the Government and Government policies.
Dissent and differing views have erupted within the Party MPs with some voting against the Party's whip line.
Speaking in Fuvahmulah, President Yameen said unity was a vital aspect of development. He said the Government was approaching various investors in order to boost national development and dissent within Party ranks was difficult.
"Its not easy for me to hear criticism from within the ranks for every action. Every Member becomes a Member when they support the President's manifesto, support Party views and with the support of citizens. So in that situation, the Members, who the public had supported, will have to work with the Government," he said.
"If the Government is being run against main principles, then the Government must be brought to the right path. Otherwise, they have to accept the person at the position of President is the President for a five year term. They have to recognize the President is one who will assist the Parliament Members to their positions," he said.
President Yameen said the Members are not elected to their positions based on "smarts" alone. He said the family and political alliance played vital roles in getting elected, adding that the MPs were given a set mandate and a responsibility and they have to remain to true to that responsibility.
