President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Wednesday accused the now united opposition of inviting foreign influence to shores of the archipelago.
In his address to the nation on the occasion of Maldives’ 52nd Independence Day, president Yameen alleged that politicians were pursuing their own interests, instigating violence and encouraging other countries, societies and organisations to interfere in Maldives' internal affairs, under the guise of citizen’s rights.
"... the battle to keep influential colonial powers at bay, now emerges and is being fuelled within the Maldives," president stressed.
"Jealousy seems to have paved its way into the national arena. Undisguised, self centred efforts to deter national development aimed to benefit people en masse are carried without hesitation."
President said supporting such politically motivated calls will neither pay for healthcare or electricity bills or help students achieve academic excellence.
"We also need to recognise that time spent on answering these questions and combatting these efforts, divert time, energy and financial resources away from ports, hospitals, housing projects and other similar initiatives aimed towards the betterment of life," he explained.
Maldives has been ravaged by fresh political strife after all opposition leaders including former presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom penned a historic treaty to work against the government.
In recent weeks, the opposition has scored major victories after wresting parliament majority from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) with help of government lawmakers loyal to the deposed PPM leader Gayoom and his lawmaker son Faris Maumoon.
The elder Gayoom had a major falling-out with half brother president Yameen which has seen the ruling party split into two factions. The former strongman who ruled the country for three decades before being defeated by Nasheed in the first democratic elections in 2008.
