Nasheed in Haider's defence: 'I have utmost confidence'
"The data was wrong. So we have to look at who the right people are," Nasheed said.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
Former President Mohamed Nasheed has defended the newly appointed Housing Minister Ali Haider, who is being criticised by the opposition MDP, by saying he has “utmost" confidence in him.
Nasheed's comments came after South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed urged MDP not to approve Haider during the ongoing state budget debate. Meekail made the appeal while alleging that the new government had started the process of "stealing" the land allotted to the people of Male city by the previous government.
On Monday, the housing minister said at a press conference that he would seek legal advice on how to deal with the registries issued by the previous government, although land had been given out from some unreclaimed lands, under the Binnveriya scheme. Meekail was displeased when Haider said that.
"Before I start participating in the budget debate, I want to say that I have the utmost confidence in the new housing minister. And I think there is no room for this parliament not to approve the new president's cabinet," Nasheed said.
Nasheed said the government changed because the people wanted it and it was “a moral obligation” for parliament to approve the new government's cabinet.
Nasheed said Haider is a professional who has been working in the Planning Ministry since the establishment of the ministry in Maldives and he made a good speech on Monday. The list should be revised to see who is entitled to the flats and land, he said.
"Dr. Haider's statement on Monday is very clear. The marks were based on data fed to the marks. The data was wrong. So we have to look at who the right people are," Nasheed said.
