Businessman Sarangu Adam Manik, who stood by the main opposition party MDP through various stages in the past, hit back today, stating that those currently in the senior ranks of the party are "outsiders who joined later".
He directed these verbal attacks at the current MDP leadership while speaking to the media to announce his support for Moosa Ali Jaleel, who is contesting for the Malé Mayoral seat on the PNC ticket in the Local Council Elections scheduled for the fourth of April.
Adam Manik, the first Mayor of Malé, stated that the old MDP no longer exists and that there is no one in the senior ranks of the party who did not previously belong to the former DRP.
"Our word is no longer (acceptable to MDP). There is no memory of how we made MDP into something significant and did all these things by governing during the first term," Adam Manik said.
"Aren't the people who ran toward us with batons now (in the senior ranks of MDP)? Who is Abdulla Shahid (MDP President)? Is (former Chairperson) Fayyaz an MDP person?."
Adam Manik stated that he would be seen with the party again "on the day MDP becomes MDP" once more.
"I gained no profit from an MDP government. What left my hands is gone," said Adam Manik, who was previously prominent in funding various MDP activities.
Adam Manik said that his founder in MDP was former President Mohamed Nasheed, and that even he has now been "cast out" of the party.
Expressing his support for the current President, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Adam Manik stated that he is someone he trusts very much.
While he is still currently a member of MDP, Adam Manik said he maintains a close relationship with President Muizzu, both before and after his election to the presidency.
According to Adam Manik, looking at the past two years or so of this administration, he has not seen anything that President Muizzu has done wrong.
"The problems we are currently facing are not problems created by President Muizzu. These debts, and the massive debts from which even our children's children cannot escape, were not created by President Muizzu," he said.
Adam Manik said that while there were rumors of money going missing during the COVID period, there is nothing of that sort from President Muizzu's side.
He said that when former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s term ended, there were "holes in the pockets" and the money received by the state is going toward patching those issues.
However, Adam Manik stated that as a businessman, one has to wait for many days with arms folded after submitting a request for permission for something to the government. Therefore, he said the government needs to become more efficient than it is now.
"But we haven't reached a point of dissatisfaction with this government. In other governments, one always had to be out on the streets," Adam Manik said.
Supporting the PNC candidate Moosa Ali Jaleel, Adam Manik said that as someone who has served in the military, he would have discipline. Adam Manik stated that once Moosa Ali Jaleel is shown a target to travel toward, he will proceed without taking detours.
"A party manifesto is what will be used. It will be good once he takes that manifesto and goes straight without taking detours," Adam Manik said while supporting Moosa Ali Jaleel.
