The Progressive Party of Maldive (PPM) and the People's National Congress (PNC), on Wednesday, stated that Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid provided misinformation to the Parliament concerning foreign aid received by the previous administration.
Speaking at a news conference held at the PNC head office, the party's vice president and Maavah MP Mohamed Saeed asserted that Maldives had attained MVR 3.4 billion foreign aid by the end of 2018.
However, Minister Shahid stated that the previous government received MVR 1.9 billion as aid throughout its term while President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration had successfully secured the same amount within the first 100-days of the presidency.
MP Saeed stated that information published on the foreign ministry's website in 2018 noted that major active external grants amounted to USD 222 million. Noting that the figure was approximately MVR 3.4 billion, Saeed pointed out the discrepancy in Minister Shahid's assertions.
Saeed, who previously served as the Economic Minister, stated that the administration of Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom had secured USD 148 million of foreign aid for waste management alone.
The PNC vice president, therefore, reasoned that Foreign Minister Shahid had made untrue statements at the parliament.
Saeed alleged that Shahid's rhetoric was intended to purposefully mislead the public and condemned the foreign minister's statements.
Minister Shahid was summoned to the parliament by 'Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party' (DRP) leader and Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir, for questioning over pledges to renew diplomatic relations between Qatar.
The parliamentarian also questioned the minister over numerous diplomatic travels undertaken by the ministry.
Foreign Minister Shahid recorded a total of MVR 7.5 million as expenses from the Foreign Ministry's budget, while the former administration spent MVR 27 million in 2018 alone.
The top diplomatic also expressed the necessity of conducting diplomatic visits during any presidency.
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