Former state minister says Adam Azim carried MDP forward while Ali Azim abandoned it

Former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Sports Ministry State Minister Hussain Ismail said on Saturday evening that he has seen the work of both incumbent Mayor Adam Azim and former Henveiru Central MP Ali Azim. He posed the question of whether the one who “kicked the party in the face” when it was in trouble, or the one who “carried it forward,” should be elected in the upcoming MDP primary for Male' City Mayor.  

Speaking at a rally held at the MDP campaign camp in support of Mayor Azim, Hussain likened the choice to “a breadfruit and an apple” when considering change.  

He stressed that the MDP’s candidate for mayor must be worthy of representing the party.  

“We have seen the work of Adam Azim and we have seen the work of Ali Azim,” Hussain said, directly comparing the two.  

“There is not a single bill introduced during [Ali Azim’s] fifteen years in parliament. Then the other thing we have to think about is whether we will keep the person who kicked us in the face and left us in the time of trouble, or if we will keep the person who held us up and worked with us to this day.”  

Hussain added that Adam Azim had been one of the most active and sincere managing directors in the government of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, first at MWSC and later at MTCC.  

Criticizing Azim’s predecessors, Hussain said the work done by past mayors compared to the nearly two years of Adam Azim’s tenure is clear.  

“So far, no mayor has dared to audit the city council except Adam Azim,” he said, adding that Azim should be given a full term as mayor.  

Meanwhile, Adam Azim on Friday urged voters to support him again, saying he has achieved in 1.5 years what could not be done in ten years. Since being elected, he noted that he has carried out extensive work with a budget of MVR 190 million.