Will use remaining few days to ensure safety for citizens: Ibrahim Ameen

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) candidate who won the by-election for Ungoofaaru constituency, Ibrahim Ameen has said that he will use the remaining few days of the parliament term to work for citizens’ benefit, and to ensure safety for the people.

“I will spend the remaining few days working for the benefit of the people, and to ensure safety for the people. My priority would be to ensure safety for the people,” he told Sun Online shortly after winning the election.

Ameen is the younger brother of former Ungoofaaru MP Dr Afrasheem Ali, who was murdered a few months ago.

Ameen noted that there are several factors behind his success, including the fact that PPM is the biggest political party in the Maldives.

“There are several factors behind this success. One thing is that Thutthu [Dr Afrasheem] was murdered, leaving this seat vacant. Another reason is that PPM is the biggest political party in the Maldives. Also, the fact that my family, friends and this electorate believe that this is the best solution for the time being, is another reason,” he said.

Ameen said that the election was a success for the people who voted for Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) as well, however, the real success was for PPM.

“This is not a failure for MDP. But the fact that more people voted for me shows that this is what the majority wants,” he said.

Temporary results for Ungoofaaru by-election shows that PPM won by a margin of 81 votes when compared with MDP.

A total of 2,284 people participated in the voting. MDP candidate Dr Ahmed Ashraf received 48 percent with 1,078 votes, while Ameen received 51.6 percent with 1,159 votes.