Former President Abdulla Yameen last night called on Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed to set a noble example for the Maldivian people by distancing himself from the current administration.
Speaking at a rally organised by the People’s National Front (PNF), Yameen said that while many believe Shaheem to be a staunch defender of Islamic principles, he must now leave the government, citing the Samoa Agreement and the Rasmale' deal as justification. He added that there is nothing the Maldivian people desire more from Shaheem at this moment.
"It was the Muizzu administration that ratified and accepted the Samoa Agreement, placing a seal of approval on its practice in the Maldives. Secondly, we have the issue of the 'Zionist' Male' [Rasmale']. Regarding these two issues, Dr Shaheem is someone I hold in high regard," Yameen said.
"Many believe Dr Shaheem is a firm advocate for Islamic matters. Therefore, for the sake of these two issues, I would be very pleased and would welcome it if he used them as grounds to distance himself from this government. There is nothing the Maldivian people would want more than that."
Advising Shaheem, Yameen noted that the Minister has set a positive example thus far. However, Yameen remarked that he would not accept any claims from Shaheem that he had already discussed these concerns privately with President Mohamed Muizzu.
"This is why we are advising Dr Shaheem. He has shown us a beautiful example until now, and he must show it in this matter as well. I will not accept it if they simply say they have spoken to the President individually about this," Yameen said.
Yameen also urged the Islamic scholars who left the Scholars’ Association (Ilmuveringe Gulhun) to rejoin the organisation and called on the Salaf Association to distance itself from the government as well.
"I also want to tell Salaf today: let those four scholars who left rejoin the Scholars’ Association and separate yourselves from this government. You do not have to support the government’s policies," Yameen said.
Shaheem has not yet commented on the Rasmalé deal on any platform, and his stance on the matter remains unclear.
Internal disagreements have surfaced within the ruling party regarding the government's decision to hand over 500 hectares of the state-funded Rasmalé reclamation project to the UAE-based company Eagle Hills. A National Council meeting has been scheduled for tonight to determine the party's official stance on the issue.
The government reportedly agreed to hand over the land at Rasmalé without charging an acquisition fee or ground rent. The only state revenue from the deal would be 10 percent of the revenue from the sale of commercial properties and four percent of the revenue from apartment sales at the site.
