MPs of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) representing Upper North constituencies boycotted a rally last night dubbed “Big Picture for Bodu Thiladhunmathi [Haa Alif, Haa Dhaal, Shaviyani and Noonu Atolls]” in protest of acting Chairperson ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik allegedly using party resources for “self-promotion.”
MDP MP for Nolhivaram ‘Colonel’ Mohamed Nasheed explained that the MPs decided not to attend the rally as “the purpose was not made clear and there was no discussion with us before it was organised.”
“The second reason is because we believe the party mechanism is being abused to promote a certain person,” Colonel said, referring to former parliamentary group leader Moosa Manik.
Colonel speculated that Moosa was preparing to launch a bid for the MDP ticket for the 2013 presidential campaign.
“We have advised President [Mohamed] Nasheed repeatedly that we should not be making enemies,” he said. “But what we’re seeing from Moosa every day are calls for someone to be killed or arrested.”
Moosa had become “a big liability” for the government and ruling party because of his tendency to “make enemies” and put personal interest before the party, Colonel said.
“Major successes of the party are rolled back because of one word from Moosa,” he continued. “MPs [from other parties or non-aligned] that we bring to the party after a lot of hard work is lost because of Moosa’s personal issues.”
He added that the ruling party suffered as a result of Moosa “making enemies of politicians, businessmen, the judiciary and certain media.”
“There is no one in this country who isn’t an enemy of Moosa Manik now,” he said.
Moosa has been engaged in a long-running feud with private broadcaster DhiTV, which routinely carries allegations of corruption against the MDP Chairperson, notably in the awarding of a US$21 million reclamation project to Moosa’s company Heavy Load.
Moosa meanwhile alleges that 168 bottles of alcohol found in his car while he was in Singapore was an attempt to frame him by the owner of DhiTV, Champa Mohamed Moosa.
“A media channel in this country has used my photo, my car, my family, my children and my name to do business and I want to sue for compensation,” Moosa told Minivan News at the time, referring to DhiTV’s continuous coverage of the incident.
Colonel noted that the allegations in the media were harmful to the ruling party: “I’m not saying the accusations are true, but Moosa has not been able to prove his innocence,” he said.
He urged the party’s acting chairperson to be “more focused” and “make friends instead of enemies.”
Speaking to Minivan News today, Moosa Manik however claimed that he was “not aware that anyone boycotted last night’s rally.”
Moosa also dismissed Colonel Nasheed’s criticism: “Colonel wouldn’t seriously say that about me,” he insisted. “He must have been trying to fool somebody. It must have been a joke.”
Haa Alif Hoarafushi MP Ahmed Rasheed told Minivan News that last night’s rally was announced “suddenly without any discussion” while MPs were busy preparing for a ceremony tomorrow night to unveil the government’s economic reform agenda.
While MPs Hamid Abdul Gafoor, Ilyas Labeeb and Hussein Waheed were only MPs who attended the rally, Rasheed claimed that all three left when they “understood what was happening.”
Rasheed speculated that the “hidden agenda” behind the rally was Moosa’s campaign for the MDP presidential ticket.
“I am certain of [Moosa’s plan to run for presidency],” he said. “Otherwise he wouldn’t be trying to damage and undermine the dignity and integrity of the government.”
President Nasheed met MPs recently to discuss the economic reform package, said Rasheed, and “asked us not to act like children in parliament and argue and scream at each other all the time.”
“[But] Moosa’s nuisance is now worse for us than nuisance from the opposition,” he said, claiming that “every time there is an important vote Moosa angers all the opposition MPs and businessmen in Majlis.”
He added that Moosa’s habit of “making enemies” resulted in MDP losing support of opposition and Independent MPs.
“There is a very important vote tomorrow where we are going to need the support of two opposition MPs,” he explained, referring to a vote on the agenda for Monday’s sitting to approve the president’s nominees for Fisheries Minister and Defence Minister.
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Well, as we come closer and closer to the 2013 elections, such behaviour by the MDP leaders will only increase. MDP leadership is not held together by an unbreakable bond. Just as we saw in DRP, MDP will also fragment and break. This article is perhaps about deepening a crack already there. I am not surprised.
Does Reeko really think he ca be the president of this country? Now, that surprises me.
Shaviyani and noonu atoll is also part of the natural atoll called bodu thiladunmathi. Just to let you know that.
This is something long over due. I don't know what Moosa's agenda is but I agree that he has become a real nuisance. He has so many personal issues that he can hardly move.
I hope MDP supporters come out to remove him.
I am not a member of any party and do now support one either. All parties are rotten because of people like Reeko.
“I’m not saying the accusations are true, but Moosa has
not been able to prove his innocence,”
A word of advice to the fake "Colonel": in the eyes of the law, a person is innocent until proven guilty. It's not the other way around!
It's a crying shame that the fake "Colonel" cannot understand this simple fact and is sitting in the chambers that make the laws of this country. But we are not surprised, as few of the clowns in that chamber deserve to be there.
I am not a fan of Moosa and I'd agree that he's a liability more than an asset to any political party now. I am also of the opinion that the MDP party as a whole has outlived its usefuleness for the country, at least for now.
Only now MDP MPs are saying this? Why not speak out earlier about this and not wait until the 2013 presidential race? You need to speak out the moment you see wrong in front of you, even if it might not bring sudden change. Not stay silent and speak when it goes too far.
MDP has cracked from inside out in the past years due to silence of many and accepting corrupt figures who like talking big. This is very disappointing and MDP at least to me has lost any reason to lead the next government. People talk about MDP having highly qualified professionals in various areas of Government, yet the Government has not achieved anything due to political games played by individual MPs of the ruling party as well as the opposition. But being a part of the ruling party, one should have more patience and understanding since its obvious that the opposition will do all it can to try and discredit the Govt in order to come to power next election.
I doubt many MDP voters who had high hopes for the current Government led by MDP would vote for the party in the next general election. Even I myself haven't made up my mind if MDP actually deserves my vote. I respect Anni personally since I know how hard he worked to make a change in Maldives, but I do not believe the people he picked to do the job in Government has listened to public's concern about the country's future. Instead we see many of them thinking about themselves before the well being of the people and the country. Moral value has been thrown out the window by the Government and MPs like Reeko Moosa who might be a fun guy to sit & talk with, but with all respect - not a person that people should elect or select to have any type of authority in Government.
Unless Anni makes big changes in Government and put figures with high moral value towards the poor and supports transparency, I would urge those that struggled to bring MDP into power to find another party to support in the next coming election. We cannot just go with any one party just because we were a part of that party from the beginning. If the party loses its moral ground which it started with, than what is there to support?
True I whole heartedly agree with ‘Colonel’ Mohamed Nasheed.
Mossa a big liability to MDP and somehow we should get rid of these type of lousy correctors.
Only now you noticed the dog is a liability? Or is that you had no guts to say it before?
Of course the dog is a liability, and now it has got rabies. Everything it touches is also corrupt to the bone!
Bravo Nasheed! a step in the right direction.
It's good to see 'Colonel' Nasheed coming out openly to say in public what many in MDP and the Government have been whispering for a long time.
Reeko Moosa is to blame for a lot of unnecessary challenges the Government has faced. Its all common knowledge and I will not go into every detail of it.
Moosa should understand this and come down to earth. He should change his ways and be a team player and not act like a mad wrecking bull in a China Shop.
i think reeko has gone mad. for sure he is been acting like a mad dog.
Conal is person who's got a history as well. Being accused of child
Molestation is not a small matter and previously conal changed sides all this not to say moosa is right as I agree moosa is a real liabilty to any party
Most MP's are Huge Liability !!! 400k perday they taking from Public Funds ...
@ Suvadheeb
"I am also of the opinion that the MDP party as a whole has outlived its usefuleness for the country, at least for now."
You've started making sense.
Thank God.
@ Muad MZ
Totally agree.
One of the last cards. Get all members together against one common enemy. Nazis practiced this. For MDP the common enemy could be Moosa.
What is wrong with Reeko Moosa campaigning for presidential elections? I thought there must be internal competition.
reeko is a liability. but for mdp members to acknowledge it and in public for that matter, is too good to be true. i'm not buying into this...
Well said clolnel. Moosa is really a liability , an insane a**** hole . Only thing he can do is act..his days are now out numbered
What is this about really?
Did this publicity stunt really work?
@Mina - i support your statement - ALL MPs are a liability. Considering the money paid to them by the people for disgracefully performing their duties and the amount of bribes and commissions!
Moosa has had his moment and did his part in bringing this change. we cannot deny his effort. but its time to hand over to a more intellectual, mature and sane candidates and replace all these mad hatters!
** sees n thinks WTF!!!!!
is it us or is it the so called 'politicians' IQ,,??? I knew reeko was a disaster to MDP and nation from day1. Support colonel's statement.Maybe arnold schwarzewhatsisname came out a good politician.out from the theater. only bcz he knew to differenciate between theater and real life i guess...
woh reeko MDP ke moo par dhaag hai.
* feels happy about the hindhi comment_smirk*
"angers all the opposition MPs and businessmen in Majlis" **disbeleif!!!! dont you mean "all businessmen in Majlis" LOL LOL...i see less politicians and more businessmen..
*misses count...
never mind..they are all the same....