Former President Abdulla Yameen berated former Housing Minister and incumbent President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu until he drew tears after learning that one lane was missing from the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla has said.
In an interview with Sangu TV on Tuesday night, Abdul Raheem said Yameen was unhappy with Muizzu from the beginning and tried to remove him from the post of Housing Minister three times. But it did not happen due to many reasons, he said. However, he did reveal the reasons.
China-Maldives Friendship bridge. -- Photo: Mirash Nashim/ Adhadhu
"When work was underway to open the bridge during the final days of the presidential election, the party office was at Sakeena Manzil at the time. A meeting with cabinet ministers and party leaders was held there. Cabinet ministers at the time and the rest of us heard Yameen yelling at Muizzu, who was the Housing Minister back then. He yelled until President Muizzu cried," Abdul Raheem said.
"That day, Yameen said he found out that one lane was missing just today and that was why he yelled."
At the time, Abdul Raheem was the MP for Fonadhoo and Deputy Leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
The first drawing of the bridge, which was built with Chinese free aid and the state budget, had more lanes than the final bridge. The drawing included a lane for bicycles and motorcycles and a pedestrian lane.
Opposition parties at the time criticised the government as the bridge had fewer lanes.
Noting that he did not believe this happened because of Muizzu, Abdul Raheem said Yameen was in charge of the Economic Youth Council and that he should have noticed the issue as the work was ongoing.
However, Yameen had entrusted the work of the bridge to the Ministry of Housing.
Abdul Raheem also described Yameen as arrogant and proud and accused him of corruption.
"Don't be so arrogant and proud. Believe that there may be people in this country who know what you have done and how you have lived. Be mindful that new stories may still come out," he warned.
He added that Yameen does not have the people's support and everyone knows how he came to power.
"This type of conversation cannot be carried out in a single program like this," he said.
