Ungoofaaru MP says will not stand for re-election

Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) member Ungoofaaru MP Ameen Ibrahim has announced that he will not stand for re-election for the 18th term of parliament.

MP Ameen is the brother of Dr Afrasheem Ali, former Ungoofaaru MP who was brutally murdered in October 2012. Ameen was elected to the seat in a by-election in December 2012.

Ameen told Sun yesterday that he has no interest in politics and that he stood for election in 2012 because he wanted to complete his brother’s term.

“My brother’s family asked me if I will stand for the seat. Senior party members and friends also want me to stand for the seat. But I have no interest,” MP Ameen said.

He said that once the current parliament term is over, he will move back to his home island Ungoofaaru and try to find a job in civil service.

Ameen won the seat with a difference of 81 votes against opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidates Dr Ahmed Sharaf in the December 2012 by-election. PPM is still strong in Ungoofaaru constituency and the party will win the seat in the upcoming election, Ameen said.

Upon the announcement that Ameen will not stand for re-election, three PPM members have applied compete for the party’s ticket.