Government policies run like snake, Yameen says

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has lashed out at the government, saying that the main problem of the current government is that it does not adhere to the policies set by it, describing it as ‘running like a snake’.

Yameen's party, PNF, held a rally on Thursday evening, and he raised this in response to a question posed by his son Zain Abdullah, who was speaking at the podium. Yameen had much to say about the government's policies in response to Zain’s question about Maldives' independence.

Yameen said the government's biggest problem is the lack of consistency in implementing the policies it sets. He said the previously announced policies on measures to overcome the economic slump, the decision to charge fees on the bridge and the ban on Israeli passports in Maldives have changed at some point or have become ambiguous.

Yameen said instead of telling people to eat rice and fish broth to cut costs, the people should be made aware and informed of steps to take. After talking about the economic recession and cost cutting, the next announcement says that money will be included in next year's budget for something else, he said.

 "Now the people don't know what is going on. If there was any sincerity [in the measures taken], then will the people know if they should welcome the change and move forward with it," he said.

He also spoke about the government's announcement on Wednesday that it would consider charging a fee on the Sinamale Bridge and connected roads. Yameen’s ire was directed mainly at President Muizzu’s later response to it.

The ‘Male-Fahi’ programme, which was launched on Wednesday to address the increased traffic problem in the city, was said to charge a fee after consulting with the relevant authorities to maintain bridges and highways in a sustainable manner. However, the President responded to it on Thursday saying that he would charge the fee only when the economic situation in Maldives improves.

Criticising it, Yameen said the bridge fee would be announced with the President’s knowledge. However, after the announcement, he spoke in a way that implied another meaning, Yameen said. Therefore, he said, it also indicates that the policy cannot be sustained.

Then Yameen spoke about the decision to ban Israeli passports in Maldives and the delay in its implementation. According to him:

"The government wanted to send it to Parliament too. It is not even necessary. I would say that, since the beginning, this has been lagging," he said, noting that the issue has been in the committee stage for 45 days.

"The government has chosen the long road in that too. There is no good intention in that either. On the one hand, they are saying we will do this. On the other hand, they are saying we will not allow it to happen," he said.

The former president said the policies brought to the people should be strategic and sustainable. Otherwise, Maldivians will always be struggling, he said.

Yameen said that Maldives wants to overcome the crisis it is in and therefore it is important to stick to policies that are laid down with good intentions.