Citizens should not have to beg for foreign currency, says MDA leader Siyam

Leader of the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) Ahmed Siyam Mohamed has said that during Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) three-year government, former president Mohamed Nasheed had withdrawn all the money in the banks, leaving the citizens forced to beg for loans.

Speaking at the “Decided Together” campaign rally, Progressive Party of Maldives’ (PPM) first mass rally with supporting parties since the first round of the presidential election held on Tuesday night, MDA leader Ahmed Siyam said that the country’s economy had greatly deteriorated during Nasheed’s three years and that economic development is vital for a prosperous future.

“Those in power then had emptied all the money in Maldivian banks and all the money in foreign banks too. This has caused a steep rise in dollar rates and people seeking to go abroad for medicals are forced to beg for dollars. Because of a people who had promised to eliminate begging, we are now forced to beg even more,” Ahmed Siyam said.

They are effects of people without experience coming power, Siyam said, and it will further cause an increase in poverty for the younger generations. He said in a PPM-MDA government, every young man in the country will have the opportunity to strive to become a rich. He called on the younger generations to act within the confines of the constitution.

“During a PPM five years, we will establish 20 young millionaires. We will facilitate for newly established companies to thrive. We will provide training opportunities for those who want to excel in their businesses, and we will facilitate financial facilities for such businesses, from overseas banks,” Siyam said.

He noted that unity is vital for success and that all parties who want to protect the country’s identity and Islam are now behind PPM to win the presidential race. He concluded by inviting Jumhoory Party leader Gasim Ibrahim, the last remaining leader to declare an alliance for the presidential race, to declare support for PPM.