MNDF has no role in politics: President

President Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said that Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) does not have any role in politics.

The president made this remark while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the second phase of the Uthuru Thilafalhu project.

“I want peace within the MNDF. In a small country like ours, politicians and people with political ideas often get caught up in politics, but politics is not something that people in uniforms have any role in,” he said.

He said that MNDF officers must be disciplined, and ensure protection and security for the country.

He also called on retired MNDF officers to continue to respect their service, and said that the conduct and speech of some retired officers cause distress to some officers in service.

“MNDF officers are disciplined and trained to take the lead to defend the nation and its people. This attitude need not change upon retirement. Their behaviour and manner of speaking, though seldom, is causing distress to officers in service,” he said.