Newly elected Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Saleem (Redwave Saleem) has stated that he does not want a car and security to be arranged for him by the state in his capacity as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

As Ahmed Nazim resigned as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, the People's National Congress (PNC) majority parliament voted Saleem for the position.

While he was speaking for the first time in a public forum after having been elected to the position, Saleem said that he does not truly want the position of Deputy Speaker. However, he said that he accepted the position in order to maintain the situation, party interests and friendship.

Competition was on the rise as some PNC members had an interest in the Deputy Speaker of Parliament position. Nevertheless, all members agreed to let Saleem have it. At the time, Saleem was on his Hajj pilgrimage.

"I took on this position in order to strengthen the party's bonds. This is not a position I want otherwise," said Saleem, who continues to serve his fourth term as the Eydhafushi Constituency MP.

While speaking at a PNC hub last night, Saleem said that working for the nation is more important to him than his own work and businesses. The Parliament had called to inform him that he was to come into possession of a state vehicle in his capacity as the Deputy Speaker, but he had said that he did not want it.

"I said that I do not want it. I will go just as I always have, on the back of someone's motorcycle. I am not someone who wants to live in a higher class. Then I was told that security was absolutely required. I said that I have entrusted this task to my security personnel. I do not want additional security," as per Saleem.

Saleem went on to say that those at PNC are sincere and loyal, and that they do not want to live a higher quality of life. Saleem also said that this was evident when Moosa Zameer retired as the Finance Minister due to health reasons and to give the position to someone more capable.