People's National Congress (PNC) presidential candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's manifesto lacks substance and includes policies previously announced by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said today.
Campaigning in Baa Fehendhoo, the president said that while candidates were making pledges during the final stretch of the campaign, only the PNC's pledges were even slightly worth considering.
"We should take a look at what they're saying in the manifesto proposed by PNC. There aren't any [others]. I don't see that there are others who are contesting with much of a vision or policies," he said.
The president said Muizzu's manifesto was formulated by making minor changes to the MDP manifesto. The MDP has already announced policies such as setting up a housing bank, he noted.
"The opponents talked last night about a housing bank. Look, we've already announced that, about issuing soft loans and all. They're just saying [the same thing] after changing a few letters. But what they're talking about is what we've already finished announcing," he said.
The president also criticized opposition candidate Muizzu's remarks in Kudahuvadhoo last week about changing the annual school holidays.
"Two or three days ago, he came out and said, 'I will change it as soon as I come [to power].' On the next day, he said, 'I will change it back to the way it was. I won't bring any change,'" Solih said.
The government changed the annual holidays to the middle of the year after consulting tourism industry workers, he said.
The president also attacked the PNC candidate for pledging to provide essential services on the islands, saying that Muizzu failed to do so as housing minister for seven years.
"Didn't you see before that this island doesn't have water and sewerage? [Didn't you see] people's TVs, refrigerators and air conditioners destroyed because there was no electricity?" he asked.
The president also took note of Muizzu's pledge to build housing in plots awarded from Gulhifalhu. Housing provided from Gulhifalhu was taken back while Muizzu was housing minister, he said.
"What did he do as the minister? He took back plots awarded by the previous government from there [Gulhifalhu] and didn't even provide compensation. The MDP government at the time reclaimed [the lagoon] by contracting it. Even the payment owed to the contractor was not made and the flats handed then were taken back," the president said.
President Solih and Thulhaadhoo MP Hisaan Hussain. -- Photo: MDP campaign team
Muizzu's claims cannot be believed, the president said, noting that the people who were awarded flats and plots from Gulhifalhu had been compensated by the current administration. He urged the public to consider such matters in the days before the election.
"You can just say one thing after another. There's nothing at all in there of any substance. Don't believe it," he said, insisting that it is the MDP that would sincerely serve the public in the next five years as well.
Muizzu launched his election manifesto at a rally last night. The main focus of the manifesto was solving the housing crisis and assuring home ownership for all citizens.
Three of five sections in the MDP's manifesto for President Solih's re-election have been released so far. Solih considers Muizzu to be his main rival in this year's election.
