“No party leader spoke up when MDP took bribes to vote in government ministers, and while some members abstained from voting. Additionally, when the party was split and when we voted against the three-line whip, talking about us is shameful,” MP Saneef said.
South Thinadhoo MP, Abdulla Saneef, has expressed his anger against Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and its President Abdulla Shahid over allegations against him of taking bribes to not participate in the vote to approve the new government ministers.
In today's parliament sitting, while debating the Anti-Defection Bill proposed by MDP, MP Saneef said that prior to the bill being enacted, parties need to strengthen their respective Political Parties Act.
He said that unless the Act is strengthened, those elected as party leaders will have no trust and ability to carry out their duties.
MDP, the biggest party in the Maldives, saw its President elected because no one else ran for the position. If such things are repeated in the future, parties will lose their legitimacy according to MP Saneef.
“I wish for the Parliament to make a decision and expose the people involved in bribery and put an end to this,” he stated.
Criticizing MDP’s Anti-Defection Bill, Saneef said the Anti-Defection Act of 2018 was repealed after MDP came to power for their own benefit.
“To gain political power for self-serving purposes, MDP abolished the Act when they assumed office.
There was no need to abolish the Act but rather, it should have been strengthened,” he reiterated.
MP Saneef said that he was with MDP all along until he received false accusations against him.
“No party leader spoke up when MDP took bribes to vote in government ministers, and while some members abstained from voting. Additionally, when the party was split and when we voted against the three-line whip, talking about us is shameful,” Saneef, who did not partake in the vote, said.
He said that they do not talk about those who took the bribes on the day the ministers were approved and condemned the party leadership for defaming him. He alleged that the comments were made by a newspaper run by MDP's President Shahid.
As allegations began to surround Shahid, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Aslam requested not to mention those who could not be held accountable during the debate.
Saneef further emphasized that if parties are not strengthened when the bill becomes law, the leadership "would do anything to the members."
"I wish for the Parliament to take a stance against the people who are engaged in taking bribery," Saneef said in his concluding statement.
Some of the ministers who were not approved by MDP were approved by a narrow margin.
While Shahid has come under criticism, former State Minister for Gender, Zilfeena Hassan, is contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections from the constituency Saneef currently represents.
Sign In