Harassment and taunts are common when politicians visit islands. The conventional response is to blame rival political leaders instead of publicly expressing displeasure.
But Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim has not been following the convention during this year's presidential election campaign. During the JP's campaign trips to northern islands ahead of the September 9 election, Qasim responded directly to the public on a few occasions.
The most recent instance came during a campaign rally in Shaviyani Kanditheemu on Saturday. "I don't care if no one comes" to listen to the speech, Qasim said, in an apparent reference to the low turnout at the JP rally.
"I have come out to fulfill my responsibility. I don't care if no one comes. I don't care if no one comes," Qasim said, raising his voice.
Regardless of the turnout, the "people of the country will hear" what he has to say, he said.
Qasim also reacted angrily after a member of the public heckled his special advisor Ahmed Nihan. While what happened was not clear as the entire incident was not witnessed, Qasim's remarks suggested that he was responding to a Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) activist.
"When he yelled at Nihan, does he know who brought that government to power. Look, it was this Qasim who did. Otherwise, PPM would never have seen the Maldivian government," Qasim said in Haa Dhaal Nolhivaram.
Qasim also asked whether the man knew how many millions he spent to bring PPM to power.
"How many things did I do. How many votes did I secure," Qasim said.
Taunting Nihan was a vulgar act and such people should not work in politics, he said.
Eight candidates are facing off in this year's presidential election: President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Male' Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu from the People's National Congress (PNC), Qasim from the JP, Ilyas Labeeb from The Democrats and Mohamed Nazim from the Maldives National Party (MNP). Faris Maumoon, Umar Naseer and Hassan Zameel are contesting as independent candidates.
Similar incidents also occurred during the previous presidential election and videos of candidates emerged as well.
