New jobs coincided with election, no influence: Adhurey

PNC Chairperson and the President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's special advisor, Abdul Raheem Abdulla on Monday has said the government did not influence the recently concluded parliamentary election.

According to Abdul Raheem, the appointment of multiple individuals to various goverment positions close the election were coincidental and in no way aimed gaining a political advantage.

However, opposition alleges the ruling party and the government abused their authorities during the election.

In a special interview to 'Sun', Abdul Raheem, while residing in his home island of Laamu atoll Fonadhoo, said the parliamentary election hit only four months into the new administration, stressing this as the reason why the new job appointments coincided with the parliamentary campaigning period.

"We had new job appointments, yes, but that was because the election had come just four months into the new government, so it is necessary that we appoint those who believe in our policies, to jobs," Abdul Raheem commented.

He also stressed the government did not intimidate or scare any public official into subordination as well.

"We do not believe an upcoming election should be an reason for us to deter from appointing people to jobs, but I say it with pride that we had not terminated a single employee as a means to influence the election," he added.

"We did not intimidate them, neither did we demote any of them."

The special advisor however, said that the President under his constitutionally awarded discretion, would appoint political designates and will do so in the future, as a means to appointing those who would proactively support and assist in executing the state's policies. Abdul Raheem added that this not related to the election, but rather a constitutional prerogative.

"We had not appointed any new employees to Fenaka because of the election as well," Abdul Raheem added.

"But generally speaking, the appointments that happen during the initial days of a government, does not become politically motivated appointments, simply because the period coincided with the elections."

The PNC leader further noted that President Muizzu does not wish for the local youth to remain unemployed as well, and added that political appointments ahead of the elections were a practice of the former government, but not the current one.

Any political opposition of a given time, alleges the government of the said period exploits their position by providing job opportunities and by launching developmental projects, to muster support for the election. 

It is common for opposition to always allege the government's misconduct in buying off votes, while the same has been alleged by the Transparency Maldives as well.