President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Sunday obliquely criticised the Managing Director State Trading Organisation (STO) Hussain Amru, who has openly declared his support for Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed in the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s upcoming primary election.
Speaking at MDP’s main hub in Gaafu Dhaalu atoll Thinadhoo on Sunday, the President said that people should not prioritise their personal political beliefs over the development needs of the public. The President did not specify a name; however, he went on to speak about STO.
He said that the construction of a cold storage facility to store fish on the island has been handed over to the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (Mifco), which is a subsidiary company of STO. Solih said that people are "now" concerned about the pace of the facility’s development.
"No government agency or company will falter in implementing pledges made by this administration. We will implement them, and we will change procedures if we have to in order to realise them," President Solih said in Thinadhoo.
"A shift in someone’s political alliance is no reason for these initiatives to come to a halt. I guarantee you, we will be working with companies to ensure these projects are carried out without interruptions."
Solih also said that there was no reason for anyone employed in state-owned companies to worry about their jobs and reiterated that projects would not be interrupted because of political alliances.
On Sunday evening, Amru responded to President Solih’s comment in Thinadhoo via Twitter.
Amru claimed he informed the President of his decision to join Nasheed on his campaign to Huvadhoo Atoll (Gaafu Alifu and Gaafu Dhaalu atolls) last Thursday and stated his reasons for doing so.
He said that he assured the President that the work of STO would not be hindered by political affiliations within the party.
Amru went on to say that STO was doing national work and that the company would continue to provide services for Maldivian citizens.