A daily roundup of headlines made by the candidates, running mates and their surrogates on the campaign trail.
September 5
- Maldives will be divided if opposition wins power: Shaheem (Sun)
- This country will be divided if opposition win power: Dr Shaheem (Mihaaru)
- Shaheem to scholars: don’t join political discord! (Avas)
- Shaheem calls on scholars not to get destroyed in politics (Mihaaru)
- Opposition isn’t an alliance, it’s a big conflict: Dr Shaheem (PSM)
- President starts campaign trip to Vaavu atoll (Mihaaru)
- Warm welcome for President Yameen in Vaavu Felidhoo (PSM)
- Maamigili has changed, support is growing for President Yameen: campaign office (Avas)
- PPM made the most progress recently in Maamigli: Nihan (Mihaaru)
Campaigning in the northernmost atolls, the president’s running mate Dr Mohamed Shaheem kept up attacks on the opposition coalition, warning that the four partners would squabble once in power and “this country will once again fall 15 years behind through their quarrels and divisions”.
The chancellor of the Islamic University of Maldives appealed to religious scholars to stay clear of politics. Shaheem criticised former colleagues and clerics in the Adhaalath Party for backing the opposition, alleging that the coalition’s goal was to establish a secular state. There was a plot afoot by adversaries of Islam to ruin local scholars, he claimed.
After returning from a tour of Ari atoll, President Abdulla Yameen visited two islands in the central Vaavu atoll, the least populous atoll in the country.
- Ibu says number of yachts coming to Uligan will be increased (Raajje)
- Ibu says Uligan city hotel work will continue (Vnews)
- A barrage of pledges from Ibu for Ihavandhoo! (Raajje)
- Ihavandhoo very distinct, Ibu says this is done (Mihaaru)
- Ibu’s pledges bring contentment to people of Ihavandhoo (Vnews)
- Water, sewage and electricity aren’t pledges, they’re essential services: Ibu (VFP)
- We will establish laboratories on every island in Maldives: Ibu (Avas)
- Public will have a say in coalition government: Ibu (Vnews)
- We get income enough for development, the problem is corruption: Ibu (Mihaaru)
- If spending is done right, there won’t be any island without essential services: Ibu (Avas)
- The story of an emotional note a child on a Haa Alif atoll island gave Ibu (Vnews)
- Ihavandhippolhu will be developed to a modern standard: Ibu (Mihaaru)
- Along with many pledges for Hoarafushi, Ibu reveals vision for Ihavandhippolhu development (Raajje)
- “Ihavandhippolhu will be developed with an integrated plan” (Avas)
- Ibu’s national security policy: independence and training for institutions (Mihaaru)
- Ibu’s national security framework revealed with pledge to reform police (Raajje)
- Security forces will be shaped to provide security for the public: Ibu (Vnews)
- We will not politicise institutions related to national security: Ibu (VFP)
- We will increase rehabilitation centres and run them properly: Faisal (Raajje)
- We will restore order on streets of Malé and brighten future for youth: Faisal (Vnews)
- Support grows for opposition because of PPM campaign: Mariya (Mihaaru)
- No matter how much pestering from the government, we will beat them big time if ballot boxes are kept: Mariya (Raajje)
- President Yameen’s campaign has run out of options: Mariya (VFP)
- Siyam has abandoned Yameen too: Hassan Latheef (Raajje)
- President Yameen only has keys to the armoury in his hands: Muhamma (Raajje)
Joint opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ‘Ibu’ kicked off a tour of the northernmost atoll, making numerous pledges on each island stop. Heartened by the rows of jubilant supporters who welcome him, Ibu expressed confidence of a comfortable victory on September 23.
Among his pledges for Ihavandhoo were facilitating fish purchases, expanding the ice plant and upgrading the health centre to a hospital.
The loss of state revenue from corruption was a recurring theme in his speeches.
At a rally Wednesday night on Hoarafushi island, Ibu pledged to develop a transhipment port in the atoll, an unfulfilled pledge of the incumbent. An “integrated plan” that includes tourism development would be drawn up following public consultation. Foreign aid would also be forthcoming, he added.
The coalition government would pick a new site for a regional airport that would optimise access for all inhabited islands, he said, criticising the government’s choice of Maafinolhu.
The veteran lawmaker outlined his national security policy, promising to protect the police and military from political influence and to bring an end to the use of secret intelligence reports for prosecution. The policy includes training to improve capacity and professionalism, establishing modern facilities, developing the coastguard and marine police, and combating religious extremism.
Photo of Ibu from Raajje.mv and Shaheem from his Twitter account
