Yumna ‘saddened’ by derogatory words against father

Yumna Maumoon – daughter of Leader of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has expressed sadness over derogatory words being used against her father in the middle of the heated conflicts within the ruling party.

A tirade of criticism – both direct and indirect – has been unleashed upon Maumoon by some who have sided with his half-brother President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom in the battle.

Speaking in a VTV show last Sunday night, Yumna said that she experienced “a myriad of emotions” over the derogatory words being used against her father.

“I experience a myriad of emotions. Like President Maumoon said today, many of them were elected with his direct involvement by visiting different islands and campaigning for them,” said Yumna.

“To see them use derogatory words directly against President Maumoon, we experience a myriad of emotions. We had once all worked very closely together. So we are sad to see this today,” she said.

Meanwhile, former Minister of Home Affairs for President Yameen, Umar Naseer also voiced the same sentiments on Sunday night.

Umar said that he considered them brothers, and was still hopeful of working together with them.

He said that they were “neither the opposition nor the enemy” but were simply “lost at the moment”.

Umar said that many of the members of PPM Parliamentary Group had won their seats by using Maumoon in their campaign.

“It hurts our morale to see such close people make comments in different platforms that even MDP [Maldivian Democratic Party] doesn’t say. I appeal to them to stop. We still respect President Yameen,” said Umar, speaking to reporters.