The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) national council has decided to set up a think tank and an academy to train politicians under a road map to strengthen the party and sustain it as an institution.

MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail said the think tank is being formed to promote good policies on behalf of the party and to promote the party.

"Our constitution mentions a think tank within the standing committees. However, we are now choosing to form such a think tank as a separate institution by registering it on behalf of the MDP," Fayyaz said.

The think tank will conduct academic research in shaping the party's various policies and advise the party leadership to achieve the needs of the people in the light of information and data, he said.

The party also decided to hold conferences across the country, with the first edition planned for council members from Haa Alif, Haa Dhaal and Shaviyani atolls on September 12 in Kulhudhuffushi city.

Fayyaz said the purpose of the conference is to find the opinions of the councillors on the current challenges and how the MDP will respond and to start working to defend the decentralization system.

Meanwhile, MDP has also decided to run a business under the Political Parties Act to raise the financial resources needed to conduct its activities.

"We need a lot of money to keep the party going strong. Right now, we have reached this point, in the past 19 years, we have not achieved the financial independence to stand on our own feet," Fayyaz said.

The party's national council passed to find a legal system that allows the planned business to proceed.

Article 34 of the Political Parties Act states that parties are allowed to raise money from business transactions.