Opposition will not be excluded despite supermajority: Saleem

People's National Congress (PNC) will not misuse the supermajority in the 20th parliament session to exclude opposition members, unlike what was witnessed in the current parliament session, said Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) PG leader Ahmed Saleem, who has been re-elected for Eydhafushi constituency for the fourth consecutive term.

Speaking about the Mental Health Bill in parliament today, Saleem said that during the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) majority, the weak are insulted and put under mental distress when they gained power, and this has been observed in the current Parliament as well.

At that time when only nine opposition members were in the parliament, they were treated with contempt, their work was obstructed, and they were psychologically put under distress, Saleem said.

"The handful of members were not even allowed to speak. They were given the opportunity when they took points of order or when they interrupted their speech. With only a few members in the opposition, it resulted in mental distress, but we bravely overcame the situation," Saleem said.

Saleem accused MDP of using its power to intimidate and harass members even after the new government was sworn into office. He added that due to this, MDP has lost its power today.

Highlighting the supermajority win by the ruling PNC in Sunday's parliamentary election, Saleem said that no one will be threatened or harmed, and the parliament would run with the inclusion of minorities as well.

“We will respect the minority and will not try to undermine them. God willing, we will try to move forward with equal participation of all members,” Saleem said.

Saleem added that President Muizzu's vision and instruction were the same.