Adam Shareef Umar has once again said he is 'unsure if [he] can refrain from punching [them] on their chins' in reference to opposition MPs, with regard to what he said is their continued obstruction of government efforts to serve the public.
Strongly criticizing opposition Maldivian Democratic Party in his speech, Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works Adam Shareef Umar has once again said he is 'unsure if [he] can refrain from punching [them] on their chins' in reference to opposition MPs, with regard to what he said is their continued obstruction of government efforts to serve the public.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, and his accompanying delegation, met with the residents of Meemu atoll Dhiggaru on Wednesday. Speaking at this gathering, Shareef said there are numerous challenges faced in fulfilling the President's visions ands policies, and that the biggest obstacle is the parliament.
He said that although the parliament consists of individuals who worked closely with him in the past four years, their current actions make him 'unsure if he can refrain from punching [them] on their chins'.
"...In all honesty, if I was there today, I wonder if I could have stayed without punching one of them on their chins," he repeatedly said.
This is not the first time that Shareef has used this language or implied taking such action against parliamentarians.
While he was serving as Minister of Defence during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration, he said that were he a military officer, he would have punched an opposition member on the chin.
Although this was said in a closed meeting within MNDF, the audio was leaked, leading to much controversy and discontent.
Shareef went on to criticize other actions of the parliament.
Regarding the parliament's decision to not grant approval to three of President Dr Muizzu's cabinet members, Shareef said, "they are, without justification, obstructing the President from fulfilling his legal obligations. They didn't like it when the cabinet was sent for approval. But the ministers they did not approve are, in fact, the ministers most popular amongst the public".
"Decentralization system is being implemented more efficiently than ever before. I challenge you, even if this ministry is dissolved today, no matter what difficulties the parliament presents, in running the councils in Maldives till date, there is no leader who has paved the path for progress as well as President Dr Muizzu, I am saying this with certainty," Shareef asserted.
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