"Maumoon, Gasim instigate conflict": Pres Yameen's faction

The faction of the divided ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) loyal to its adviser and incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom accused the party's leader and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of taking away the peace and sovereignty of the nation.

In a press conference held at the main activity hub of President Yameen's faction, Dharubaaruge convention centre in capital Male, the Secretary General of PPM appointed from that faction Dr.Abdullah Khaleel declared that former president Maumoon and the leader of Jumhooree Party, Qasim Ibrahim, are joining forces with the opposition to create more conflict in the nation.

Maumoon recently withdrew his support for President Yameen's government and teamed up with Qasim Ibrahim, the president of the third largest political party in the Maldives, to uphold the rule of law and democracy of the nation.

Khaleel, who is also the lawmaker of Nilandhoo Constituency, said Maumoon should promote peace while supporting the development projects carried out by the government. He challenged which project was not being carried out among the string of new government endeavours being undertaken from the northernmost island of Thuraakunu in Haa Alif atoll to the southernmost island of Gan in Addu atoll.

“This needs to be answered!” Khaleel said.

Kelaa MP Ali Arif added that opposition parties conspire anti-government activities within the parliament but that is because they cannot digest the development being brought about by the current government.

“The no-confidence vote against the Speaker will never succeed,” declared Arif, referring to the motion of no confidence being sought against parliamentary speaker Abdulla Maseeh, which is headed by lawmakers loyal to Maumoon's faction of PPM.

Arif urged the nation not to join Maumoon and Qasim.

Moreover, Naifaru MP Ahmed Shiyam declared that PPM still stands together and are going strong despite the opposition's efforts to bring them down.

“There is no formula in a cocktail coalition. They will not succeed at anything in the parliament.”