Maumoon indirectly criticizes Latheef’s Bill as discriminatory

Former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has indirectly criticized the Bill submitted by Dhidhdhoo MP Abdul Latheef Mohamed to bar former presidents from running for Parliament as a discriminatory move.

Speaking in an interview to ‘Sun’ last Monday night, Latheef said he does not believe former presidents should be allowed to run for the Parliament, and announced his intention of submitting an amendment to the law to bar former presidents from running for the Parliament.

Jinsakah kula akah ufan rashakah umurakah belumeh nethi qaanoonuge kurimathee gai hurihaa rayyithun hamahama vaan jeheyne https://t.co/UWbd6HaSs4

— Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) January 15, 2019

Maumoon, one of the four government coalition leaders, this Tuesday, retweeted a statement by Abdulla Kamaluddin, former Public Works Minister during his presidency, advocating for equal opportunity to everyone to run for public office.

In his retweet, Maumoon wrote that no one should be discriminated based on gender, island of origin, or age. And that every citizen should be equal before the rule of law.

Meanwhile, the leader of Jumhoory Party (JP)’s parliamentary group, Kinbidhoo MP Abdulla Riyaz has announced Latheef submitted the Bill without consulting the parliamentary group, and has instructed Latheef to withdraw the Bill.

Riyaz noted the Bill directly infringed on a fundamental right of one of the government coalition leaders – former Maldivian President and Leader of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed – who has already announced his intention of running for the Parliament.

While Nasheed has already announced his candidacy and his campaigning for the elections, former President and Leader of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has neither confirmed nor denied any intention of running for the Parliament, only commenting that he would make his decision “when the time comes”.