The government's attempts to destroy free press will not succeed, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail said tonight after the government threatened action against Adhadhu for reporting the alleged monthly cash handouts to ruling party MPs.
In a post on X, Fayyaz said dictators do not want to encourage disclosure of information and promote freedom of the press.
"This government does nothing but threaten to take strict action on everything. I condemn the intimidation of journalists and obstruction of journalism," the former Economic Minister said.
Fayyaz accused the government of conducting a deceitful campaign based on lies to come to power and warned that the truth would come out even if the government continued to lie to hide its incompetence.
In a post on X today, President's Office Spokesperson Heena Waleed referred to a documentary produced by Adhadhu and the article with the headline "MVR 75,000 to each PNC MP from the President this month".
She said it was "completely untrue false news" and described the article as intended to instigate enmity against President Muizzu.
"We are working to take legal action by reporting to relevant authorities the dissemination of false news intended to create enmity towards the President," she stated.
The PNC leadership declined to comment on the Bailakka documentary while Dhuvaafaru MP Mohamed Ali, who was caught on camera carrying a black bag from the President's private residence to the PNC office, also did not respond to requests for comment.
