Minister Faisal's to Yameen: Economic expertise not exclusive to one leader

Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal, speaking at the ruling party People's National Congress (PNC) event on Thursday night, made remarks against former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Qayyoom, saying that knowledge about the economy is not exclusive to a specific leader.

Detailing, he said that it is a mistake to say that only a certain political leader fulfilled their pledges and knows the economy of the country.

"There are many aware youth and ones with innovative ideas in the Maldives now. So when someone who's sitting in a cold room claims that no one but them knows the Maldivian economy, it would be a matter of ridicule and jokes," Faisal said indirectly at Yameen.

Seven months into the government, its leaders know the country's economic situation and will not let it go bankrupt, Faisal said.

"Seven months in when the global financial institutions lower Maldives' credit rating, the great economist comes out and is saying that the country is going bankrupt. No, this country will not go bankrupt," he went on to say.

Faisal also took a jab at those who claim the current administration came on to power by showing Yameen's photo at a time when he was jailed on bribery and money laundering charges. He said that if they came on to power by showing the said empty chair, then Yameen came on to power during his administration by showing a picture of his brother and former president Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom.

But when Yameen finally got onto power, he dragged his brother to jail, Faisal said.

"After coming onto power by showing an image of President Maumoon, he put his 'thuthhonbe' [brother] in jail for seven months. By placing all political leaders of the Maldives today, be it Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim, Colonel Nazim or President Maumoon or Faris Maumoon - by placing all of them in jail," He said.

He added that Yameen's attempt to maintain power in 2018 by creating a frightening environment in the country resulted in the people clearly rejecting him and distancing him from the political arena.

Faisal said that when Yameen's party at the time failed to get enough signatures for him to contest in the 2014 election, it was PNC leaders who went out to get the forms filled, and added that Yameen would not be able to talk more on the matter.

He said that President Muizzu won the party's presidential ticket during the last election because he was the ideal candidate both academically and politically as well, adding that every pledge made by President Muizzu in the presidential election will be fulfilled with sincerity and honesty.