Gasim vows to separate state, business interests
Gasim said he has always worked for the people with love and sincerity.
By
Aishath Fareeha Abdulla
Jumhoory Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim said on Monday that he will not put his own business interests first even if he wins the election.
Speaking to reporters after submitting his candidacy at the election headquarters at Dharubaaruge with a large number of supporters, the resort-to-retail business tycoon said the he does not need anything from the state for his businesses.
Gasim said he has always worked for the people with love and sincerity.
"I am out for that. I am not out to make big profits at all," he said, adding that he is contesting the election because he wants to serve the country.
"I can say one thing for sure. If I was elected president by the people of Maldives today, I don't want anything more than what is in my own name in my own companies. I don't want anything more from Maldives."
One of the country's richest men said some people say that if they come to power, he will put business interests first. But that was "just a blatant lie," he said.
"I promise that I will not do anything like that. I am saying with certainty that we will not seek anything more in my government than what we have now. I do not want to. I will not do it," he said.
Gasim is positioning himself as the "national candidate" and his running mate is Dr. Ameen Ibrahim, who has worked with him for many years and is still very close to him.
