President: No evidence of irregularity by Majlis Speaker

There’s no evidence of any irregularity perpetrated by Speaker of People’s Majlis Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed, says President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

President Yameen made the comment defending Speaker Maseeh at a ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) function held at Dharubaaruge last Tuesday night.

During his speech at the PPM function, President Yameen said he interpreted the no-confidence motion against Speaker Maseeh as an act of “pettiness and jealousy” rather than public service.

“I say this will sadness and a heavy heart. I, too, listened to the debate. But I didn’t see any irregularity perpetrated by the Speaker of People’s Majlis. The majority of members did not involve themselves. An MP who submitted the motion tried to make the case. But the Speaker of Majlis was strong in answering to the accusations,” said President Yameen.

He said that he watched what took place within the Majlis during the no-confidence vote on March 27.

“And he backed his statements with statistical facts. So what’s happening here? This is not public service. This is nothing more than pettiness and jealousy,” said President Yameen.

The President also said that he found it difficult to stomached lawmakers who he respected siding with the opposition to oust Speaker Maseeh – referring to the faction within PPM who supported the no-confidence motion.

The no-confidence motion against Speaker Maseeh failed when 48 lawmakers voted in support of Maseeh during the roll-call vote.