Four members of PPM vote against president

Four members of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), the largest party included in the government coalition, have voted against President Dr Mohamed Waheed’s motion in parliament today regarding changes to the areas of jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence.

President Waheed’s motion was rejected by the parliament today, and the majority voted in favour of a proposition by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

According to the details of today’s voting announced by the parliament, four members of PPM voted in favour of MDP’s proposition.

The four members are PPM Parliament Group Leader, Mulaku MP Abdullah Yameen; Galolhu-South MP Ahmed Mahloof; Hanimaadhoo MP Mohamed Mujthaz and Guraidhoo MP Ibrahim Riza.

Jumhooree Party (JP) Presidential Candidate, Maamigili MP Gasim Ibrahim, even though he was present at today’s sitting, did not participate in the vote when MDP proposed to reject President Waheed’s motion. PPM’s Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim also abstained.

Meanwhile, PPM Presidential Candidate Abdullah Yameen said on ‘Raajje Miadhu’ program on TV on 20 May that PPM had never done anything to harm the government.

“If working to sustain the government is about refraining from all activities that can harm the government, take PPM’s actions as an example. But if the government violates the law and the interests of the people, it’s PPM’s responsibility to criticise the government and get it back on the right track,” he said.

President Waheed’s motion to the parliament was in relation to obtaining parliament approval for the transfer of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, the National Disaster Management Centre and the Aviation Security Command under Ministry of Defence and National Security.

Article 116 of the Constitution requires the President to submit all information relating to the ministries and their areas of jurisdiction to the parliament for approval.

Attorney General Aishath Bisham has also said that changes cannot be made to the ministries and their areas of jurisdiction unless approved by the parliament.