Good governance that is free of corruption is key to achieving meaningful development and political reform in the Maldives, self exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed said Saturday.
On the occasion of world anti corruption day, the ex-president serving 13 years in prison for the arbitrary arrest and subsequent detention of a sitting judge while he was president said on Twitter that "meaningful development and political reform can only be achieved through good governance, free of corruption."
Nasheed who is now living in self exile in the UK after he was allowed to leave for medical treatment in an internationally brokered deal also urged the archipelago to unite against corruption.
President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom meanwhile has stressed on his government's aim to weed out corruption in the Maldives, highlighting the crucial role the country's graft watchdog has to play in this effort.
In his message on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day, the President appealed to all Maldivians to avoid actions leading to corruption.
"It was the duty of the Commission and the government to investigate cases of corruption without reluctance," president's message read.
The President stated that it was vital to overcome hurdles to the prosecution of the corrupt and that it was necessary to revise laws in order to root out corruption.
The President concluded his message by appealing to all Government organizations to be free of corruption.
