A daily roundup of headlines made by the candidates, running mates and their surrogates on the campaign trail.
August 24
- Dr Shaheem travels to Laamu atoll for campaign (Mihaaru)
- Shaheem arrives in Laamu atoll, a warm welcome (Avas)
- Dr Shaheem travels to Laamu atoll (Sun)
- A warm welcome for Dr Shaheem on Haddunmathi! (PSM)
- Independence can only be maintained by voting for President Yameen: Shaheem (Avas)
- Opposition candidate has run out of options due to President Yameen’s housing policy: Dr Muizz (PSM)
Running mate Dr Mohamed Shaheem resumed travels after previous visits to two southern atolls, meeting campaign teams in Laamu atoll.
Appearing on state media, Housing Minister Dr Mohamed Muizz criticised the opposition’s policy to provide affordable housing, which includes passing comprehensive legislation, subsiding rent for low-income families, and lowering interest rates to six percent for loans to make advance payments.
Muizz said the candidate was “worried and talking nonsense” because the ‘Hiyaa Accomplished’ project announced by the president last month would provide a flat or plot of land to all Maldivians in need of housing. The public has confidence in the president as more than 6,000 people have applied so far, he said.
The opposition candidate promises flats for residents of the overcrowded capital, Muizz said, but he was the opposition parliament leader when they voted against reallocating 704 flats to Hulhumalé from a 1,500-housing unit project planned for four southern atolls.
- The past six years was the darkest Maldives has seen: Ibu (Vnews)
- Dr Afrasheem told me he would be in MDP if he were to be in a political party: Ibu (Raajje)
- We will find the truth about murders despite fear: Ibu (Avas)
- Most cancelled forms were from MDP people: Ibu (Mihaaru)
- Re-registration forms were rejected for deliberate fraud: Ibu (Raajje)
- People need to stay steadfast till September 23: Aisha (Vnews)
- Madam Aisha praises courage of Magoodhoo women (Vnews)
- Support for Ibu on Gan showed when Shaheem arrived (Raajje)
- We will open scholarships for boat building: Ibu (Sun)
- Hundreds welcome Ibu to Dhuvafaru! (Mihaaru)
- Ibu to Dhuvaafaru on fishing boat, welcome was very different (Avas)
- Dhuvaafaru council president quits PPM, signs for MDP (Raajje)
- President Yameen must answer to many things after September 23: Ibu (Raajje)
- Yameen’s corruption case is with police, it will be investigated: Hassan Latheef (Raajje)
- It is the Maldivian people President Yameen has to compete against in the presidential election: Dr Hussain (Vnews)
- There will be no religion other than Islam, that’s not something the president should question: Ibu (Raajje)
After visiting five islands the previous day, opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ‘Ibu’ continued campaigning in Raa atoll. Most of the 5,626 re-registration forms rejected by the Elections Commission were from opposition supporters, he said on Ungoofaru, alleging collusion between the electoral body and the ruling party. But the opposition would stay a step ahead of efforts to rig the election, he said.
The late religious scholar Dr Afrasheem was a dear friend who told him he was staying in the ruling party out of love for its leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Ibu said on the murdered lawmaker’s native island. He reiterated the pledge for independent inquiries into unresolved killings. There were 31 murders in the past six years, he noted.
At a rally on Dhuvaafaru, Ibu said President Abdulla Yameen will be investigated for his remarks about murders and stolen cash. He also pledged to reclaim land on the island to award plots for new homes, a pledge he has made on several islands. The housing minister has since promised to do the same.
Exiled Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim’s wife Aishath Nahula continued campaigning in Dhaal atoll.
In his weekly interview programme on Raajje TV, Ibu criticised Yameen for repeatedly challenging him to assure the public that the opposition coalition would not introduce religious freedom. There was no need to answer that question, Ibu said.
“That is something the people, all of us, our ancestors for ages believed from the bottom of their hearts. So such questions shouldn’t even be raised. I don’t think it should be done for political purposes,” he said.
