Maanu: Ali Waheed was talking about salaries meant for government officials in Malaysia

Managing Director of Maldives Gas Abdulla Maumoon (Maanu) has said that the money Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Ali Waheed alleges First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim took was actually salaries sent to representatives from Maldives sent to Malaysia by Tourism Ministry.

Ali Waheed alleged that First Lady Fathimath took money through Maanu.

In an interview with “Sun” on Sunday, Maanu said that the money was sent to Malaysia, and that it was much lower than the figure Ali Waheed claimed it to be.

“Kuala Lumpur was then the main hub in which Maldivian tourism was promoted and tourists sent to the country. The decision to station representatives at KL was made by the then Tourism

Minister and later VP, Adeeb. Since salary was not arranged to the representatives officially through Tourism Ministry, I was sent money for their salary until the arrangement was made.

Sometimes I was sent dollars, and sometimes I was sent Maldivian currency and asked to buy dollars,” said Maanu.

He said that Fathimath was not linked to the money in any way, and that she had no knowledge of it.

“Madam would not even have been aware of it. That is completely false,” said Maanu.

Maanu said that there was documentation to prove that the money was sent upon orders from Adeeb to send it to representatives at Malaysia. And that he could not reveal details regarding the figures sent as it was their salary.

“I will look into the legal side of this and reveal documents that can be revealed,” he said.