Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau has criticized former President Abdulla Yameen over his remarks calling for a return to “Anneh Dhivehiraajje”, saying the public no longer supports the slogan.
Speaking at the opening of a Hulhumale' campaign office for Ashiyath Alaika Adhunan who is contesting for the Male' City Council Women’s Development Committee President post on a PNC ticket, Shujau said Yameen’s recent call to pursue “Anneh Dhivehiraajje” contradicted his earlier stance.
“Anneh Dhivehiraajje”, loosely translated as “Another Maldives”, was the main campaign slogan of the first MDP government under former President Mohamed Nasheed.
Shujau said that today, people do not want to move towards such a vision, adding that Yameen himself had previously been among its strongest critics.
“He said that in ‘Anneh Dhivehiraajje’, judges would be taken away, people could do as they pleased at night, and property people had acquired would be sold off,” Shujau said, referring to criticisms levelled during the MDP administration and the political unrest of that period.
Yameen made his remarks at a “Chagos Jalsaa” held by his party, PNF, at the Artificial Beach area on Thursday night. At the event, he said the country’s current situation had reached a point where it needed to seek “Anneh Dhivehiraajje”, as previously advocated by Nasheed.
He also said he would support all candidates except those from the ruling PNC in the local council elections scheduled for Saturday.
Responding to the remarks, Shujau said voters should reflect carefully on Yameen’s position ahead of the polls.
“Last night we heard the same leader who once warned of the dangers of ‘Anneh Dhivehiraajje’ now calling for it,” he said.
“But the aim should be to ensure that we can live freely in Dhivehiraajje.”
Referring to the ruling party’s slogan “Dhivehinge Raajje”, Shujau said the current administration is working to ensure social security for all citizens. He cited measures such as banning vaping in schools, introducing a generational ban on smoking, and imposing the death penalty for drug smugglers as part of the government’s efforts.
Shujau added that the PNC’s vision of “Dhivehinge Raajje” is to protect the country’s social fabric and promote strong family values.
