Both camps will exchange criticism: Umar

Umar Naseer, who will compete with Abdulla Yameen in the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) primaries, has said that the two camps will debate and rebut their ideas as a means to tell the public the difference between the two candidates, but that this will not weaken the party.

Members of PPM have been divided into two teams for the primaries, which are contested by Umar Naseer and Abdulla Yameen. Umar’s team is known as “Team Umar” while Yameen’s team is known as “Yageen” (“certain”). Both teams are exchanging harsh criticism.

Speaking last night at the first PPM rally held after the congress, Umar said that the debates during the primaries will only be debates of content, and will not consist of any personal criticism. He said that these exchanges will not cause any cracks on PPM and that it will only strengthen the party. He pledged the members not to be disheartened by these exchanges, and to keep faith with the party.

“There will be competition in the upcoming primary. This competition will see us debate. We will rebut each other. But that rebuttal will be aimed at the content of the debate. It will be aimed at the strength of the arguments. Not as personal attacks. Competition of this manner will happen. It is to tell you the difference between the two candidates. Dear members, please don’t be disheartened because of this. And those rival parties, don’t be jovial about it either,” said Umar.

Umar has advised the members to learn from the incidents that had caused Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) to split and the consequent formation of PPM, and to be careful not to let such a thing happen again.

He said that DRP was a strong party when he first joined it and that the party crumbled because of the some corrupt and unfaithful people which held the party leadership. He said that the path followed by DRP was that of money, bribery and cutting underhand deals.

Umar said that some politicians think that money will achieve everything and that the revolution that was brought from within DRP proves that this it is not the case.

Many of the members who were newly elected to posts in PPM participated in last night’s rally, including a large number of general members and party supporters.