Yameen says Ghassan leaving 'most difficult' to accept

In an interview on the Fashaairu programme aired on Raajje TV on Thursday, former President Abdulla Yameen shared his thoughts on the political figures who left his side, highlighting his shock at the departure of Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon.

Yameen expressed his surprise, noting that Ghassan, who was once closely aligned with him, had chosen to join the current government, a decision that left a lasting impression on him.

When asked about the political figures who had withdrawn from his camp, Yameen admitted that the departure of Ghassan Maumoon was particularly difficult to accept.

"If you take one or two of the most difficult people, Ghassan Maumoon is very close to me. I can't believe [Ghassan moving away from him]," he said.

The former president emphasised that Ghassan's loyalty and dedication to his cause had made his shift to the government particularly hard to fathom. Yameen also expressed his disbelief that Ghassan, whose family legacy in politics is significant, would compromise his character by joining the government.

"He doesn’t have to be in this government to serve the people without compromising," Yameen added.

This statement is part of Yameen’s broader reflection on the shift in his political alliances. After a fallout with President Mohamed Muizzu, Yameen left the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and went on to establish his own party, the People’s National Front (PNF). Despite his departure from the PPM, Yameen pointed out that many of his former colleagues in the PPM-PNC leadership are now holding senior positions in the current government.

Yameen remarked that these individuals, who were once vocal critics of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration, are now part of a government they had previously condemned, notably for its stance on the “recovery of the sea area” and the alleged removal of the Indian military presence.

Yameen acknowledged that the departure of key political figures could be difficult, but he maintained that it was not an irreparable loss.

"If a person who becomes a political leader, president or party leader has the ability to attend to things, it is not difficult to build people right?" he said, suggesting that leadership resilience was key to moving forward despite setbacks.

In the same interview, Yameen also addressed the controversial arrest of his brother, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, on February 1, 2018. This incident, which had significant political implications, involved accusations of bribery connected to the release of political prisoners.

Yameen spoke about the investigation, clarifying that he was not directly involved in the process. He explained that the police had requested Maumoon’s cooperation in an inquiry into the alleged bribery of judges, particularly the provision of flats to judges from Hulhumale and Malaysia in exchange for issuing orders related to political prisoners.

Yameen revealed that the police had asked for Maumoon’s phone and tablet as part of the investigation, but when the request was made, Maumoon denied owning such items. 

"When requested it, from what I know, President Maumoon said, he doesn’t even have a phone or a tablet," Yameen recounted. As the investigation progressed, the police moved forward with procedures to arrest Maumoon and search his residence.

This exchange further highlighted the political tensions that had escalated during Yameen’s presidency, particularly regarding the controversial decisions made by his government and the subsequent legal and political fallout.

Despite these challenges, Yameen expressed a sense of pragmatic detachment, underscoring that while he would be "somewhat sad" if all his political allies departed, he believed that leadership could continue to thrive, no matter the challenges faced.