Nazim vows to mandate 60% dollar exchange with local banks
Nazim, who served as Defense Minister in former President Abdullah Yameen's government, said he was concerned about Maldives's foreign policy.
By
Shahudha Mohamed
Maldives National Party (MNP) presidential candidate Mohamed Nazim has said on Sunday that the law will be amended under the rule of Maldives National Party (MNP) to make it mandatory for dollar recipients to exchange 60% of it with a local bank, in order to resolve the existing dollar shortages.
Nazim made the remarks while speaking at a rally held at the party's main camp in Male under the MNP campaign slogan 'Ujaala Zamaan'.
Nazim said that people are in debt and cannot manage their expenses unless they have three jobs. Making them believe that just MVR 8,000 is enough, employees in state-run companies are being "enslaved" and that is not what the people deserve, he said.
"Today, we are enslaved. I say, the culture that is being followed is where you peck every time a piece of food is thrown. We are being treated like a bird," Nazim said.
He called on the people to wake up on September 9 and end the "bird-feeding culture". Nazim assured that there would be no such culture under an MNP government and promised to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor.
Among the things the MNP government will do to change the situation in Maldives are:
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Change the law to require all recipients of foreign currency, especially dollars, to exchange 60% from a local bank
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Empower the Pay Commission, adjust salaries and pay adequate wages; no citizen can survive unless they are paid a minimum of MVR 15,000 in salary
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Introduce an insurance for everyone and end the need to go to NSPA and beg for medical treatment
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Installation of fish cooling system in every fishing boat through MTCC for the convenience of fishermen
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Building and releasing modern boats for youth to go fishing
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Strengthen the governance system of Maldives, appoint capable youth to companies and ministries and give full independence to independent institutions
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Equal enforcement of the law on all
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Recovery of lagoons and islands allocated to various parties
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Within the first 100 days, introduce a bill in parliament to amend the composition of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and start the process of liberalising the judiciary
Nazim, who served as defence minister in former President Abdulla Yameen's government, said he was concerned about Maldives's foreign policy.
Nazim assured that he would always put the country first in his government regardless of any particular country’s influence.
"I want to tell you that I will make the people of Maldives blessed and happy and free from the slavery of anyone."
Former President Mohamed Nasheed, JP presidential candidate Gasim Ibrahim and MNP presidential candidate Nazim have agreed to field a common opposition candidate for the September 9 presidential election.
However, the three leaders said they would do so only if the main opposition party, the PPM, and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's MRM agreed.
