MDP says Muizz lacks Yameen's backing

Opposition PPM-PNC coalition presidential candidate Dr Mohamed Muizz is campaigning using the photo of PPM-PNC leader Abdulla Yameen, who is serving a jail sentence, because he does not have Yameen's support, defence minister Mariya Ahmed Didi said on Satuday.

Mariya was responding to a journalist's question at a press conference held on Saturday as President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih's campaign spokesperson. She affirmed to a journalists’ question on whether she believed if the PPM-PNC's campaign with a prisoner's photo was “encouraging crime”.

"... They are doing as you say, inciting crime by using such pictures, in reality, because there is no PPM in this election. Then the picture has to be put up in since in reality, Yameen does not support the candidate who has come out today," Mariya said.

She repeated her previous allegations that Muizz had the backing of religious conservative Salaf organisation. She said that former president Dr Mohamed Waheed's remarks after leaving PPM that Muizz "bought" the PPM-PNC senate to secure his candidacy explains what was going on inside the party.

According to Mariya, the public is seeing Muizz being deceitful for his own benefit. By saying he will release Yameen according to the rules of law, Mariya described Muizz’s promise as fraudulent.

"There is no legal rule, you just ask the lawyers, that allows a person to be released while in custody like that. There is no legal rule that can release someone while serving a sentence. Through parole and otherwise," she said.

"I just see Muizz posting all those photos and doing it [winning the election], and doing as he always does, letting Yameen rot in jail. Not otherwise”.

In addition to her previous comments, Mariya has been very critical of Muizz. She ridiculed the promises and policies he is making during his campaign tours.

"Every time he makes a promise to our ongoing project. Not just what he is supposed to do, but ongoing projects, saying that if he comes to power, he will do this," she said.

She said Muizz visited M. Muli and talked about the construction of an airport. She said that an airport is already being built in Muli.

"We're doing almost everything the people want. So maybe he's repeating his promise because he doesn't have any more promises to make”.

Mariya added:

“The way it ended was that they wouldn’t have a manifesto, they wouldn’t have a vision,” she said.

She said Muizz, who had never visited any island in Maldives when he was mayor of Male, is now suddenly campaigning as a presidential candidate.

“If he visits a small island, he is talking about the importance of a small island. If he visits a big island, he is saying that he will concentrate on the big island,” she said.

"Maybe the PPM-PNC candidate doesn't know what to say”.

Mariya said the people of Maldives are listening very carefully to the presidential election. Therefore, when candidates make promises and speak, the people notice these things, she said.