PPM MP invites MDP's Afeef, Ibrahim Rasheed to join opposition

Maduvvari MP Adam Shareef Umar on Wednesday extended an invitation to some lawmakers supporting Speaker Mohamed Nasheed to join the opposition PPM/PNC after they spoke in the Parliament on Wednesday that they were not satisfied with the government's move to introduce a bill against the policies proposed by MDP in the last presidential elections.

During the debate on the government's amendments to the Police Act, lawmakers supporting Nasheed; Ibrahim Rasheed of Maafannu Central constituency and Hassan Afeef from Villufushi constituency, had criticised the government.

They believe that this is a bill brought by the government in a bad intention to "give jobs to people" ahead of the presidential elections.

Ibrahim Rasheed of Maafannu Central constituency said there was no "standard" of MDP in the bill. He said he does not see the justice and integrity shown by the party's logo. Therefore, he said he would like to discuss the issue of quitting the party with Nasheed.

Afeef, MP from Villufushi constituency, said that since it was a bill submitted by the government, he would not vote against the bill even if the MDP issued a whipline to accept it. Afeef said he was working for the welfare of the people. That's why any action that may be taken against him for not voting as per the whipline is “irrelevant", he said.

"I dont care what action they take. It would be better for me to be removed from this parliamentary group," Afeef said.

Referring to these remarks, opposition PNC parliamentary group leader Adam Shareef said he was inviting MPs Afeef and Ibrahim Rasheed to switch over to PPM.

"Come over soon! Both MPs are very experienced," he said in a tweet on Wednesday evening.

Adam Shareef said Afeef and Ibrahim Rasheed would be an asset against the change of government.

Ever since Nasheed's defeat in the January primaries, lawmakers supporting him have been moving resolutions in parliament over the government's inability to implement its policies.