President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Monday shared a "simple formula" for the people to follow when choosing their next leader who would serve the best interest of the country and its people.
Speaking after inaugurating the newly established water and sewerage network in Lhaviyani Atoll Hinnavaru island, president Yameen who is seeking re-election in the next year's presidential elections urged the people not to be swayed by "hollow and unrealistic promises" made by politicians ahead of an election year.
He conceded that most people struggle to make the distinction to which his advise for the public was to narrow down the choices through the simple process of elimination.
In that regard, president Yameen urged the people to immediately dismiss a candidate with a past that threatens the Islamic principles that the Maldives strives to uphold and protect.
"When there are multiple candidates, we need to follow the simple process of elimination. When there is more than one choice, we need to narrow them down to two and vote to elect the best choice. When there are four candidates it cannot be done. So we need to eliminate the candidates we don't want to lead us," the president explained.
"First we need to stand firm on our Islamic principles. So first we need to ask ourselves which of those candidates would ensure that such principles would be upheld. Or who among our political leaders have lost it. If there is one then we can cross that one even before we reach the ballot box which would eliminate one."
The second question the people need to ask according to the president is to think deeply about their many electoral pledges and how realistic or how effective they would be. If those pledges are Utopian and unrealistic then that is one more name crossed off the list, he added.
President Yameen said the third question for the people to ask is if the candidate has the capability to implement those pledges or promises.
"Its a very simple three step process. We need to filter what politicians promise us and ask ourselves what would fit our society or whether they are more dire areas that need to be addressed," he explained.
He said if the people followed his formula, the choice for the people during the next presidential elections would be easier.
