Yameen accuses government of serious corruption

Former President Abdulla Yameen has accused the government of major theft and corruption. 

Yameen's People's National Front (PNF) held their first major rally, titled 'Wake Up' last night at the Artificial Beach. 

Speaking at the rally, Yameen said that the people of Maldives have seen a Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) administration previously, saying the term had shown 'the magical effects of roses and the four o'clock flower'. He said that some people had been unable to accept this, and had replaced this with a faded blue, referring to the colour of ruling People's National Congress (PNC). 

He used a poetic verse to state that this 'faded blue' had brought along with it hunger and corruption. 

Yameen expressed concerns about how the mandates of several companies are being changed, contracting them projects unrelated to their primary purpose. Yameen mocked this saying that what we are seeing now is RDC, the road developers now constructing hospitals, WAMCO, the waste management corporation getting into tourism, MACL, the airport operator, producing local delicacy 'killi', and so on. 

"Once the main gear loses its grip, the rest spiral into the same disarray. This is in no way a positive outlook for our future."

Yameen said that there is no institution in Maldives now that is functioning well. He stated that the courts, Anti Corruption Commission and the Prosecutor General are all failing to combat corruption. 

"When all these allegations are being raised, why can't the Prosecutor General, as he is mandated, notify the Police and ACC and look into this?"

Yameen said that it is not sufficient for MMA's Financial Intelligence Unit to secretly issue an STR, saying these issues are far more serious than that. The failure of all institutions has resulted in leaving not just the SOEs, but the entire country, as no more than an empty shell, he said. 

Yameen also levied criticism against political leaders, saying they have fallen under the administration's control, and so are no longer able to stand up for the rights of the people. As an example, he called out Jumhoori Party Leader Gasim Ibrahim, saying regardless of which administration is in power, Kaadehdhoo Airport somehow remained under him. 

However, despite all this time, the airport had not been properly operated, finally being taken back by the government after granting a USD 30 million tax exemption, Yameen alleged. 

"What a shameful thing this is. The government finally took over the airport and forgave USD 30 million in taxes that should have come to the State. How is there no corruption involved in this? Someone would have laundered money through this," Yameen alleged. 

In his speech, Yameen also criticized the recent amendments the government brought to the Decentralization Act. He, too, believes that the amendments undermine local councils.