Campaign trail: war of pledges, retirement age and interim rule

August 13

On the first stop of his three-day tour of Thaa atoll, Yameen inaugurated water services on Thimarafushi island and pledged to open a Bank of Maldives branch, award plots of land, and to lay tar on a one-kilometre road that leads to the island’s airport.

Opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ‘Ibu’ is pledging to continue ongoing projects without promising anything new, Yameen said, adding that his development model was superior to the opposition’s Jazeera Raajje (island nation) concept. He lambasted the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party’s proposal for an 18-month interim government, questioning how pledges could be fulfilled within that period.

Criticising the alleged absence of a pledge to maintain the country’s 100-percent Muslim status in the MDP manifesto, Yameen claimed murders were no longer committed on the same “scale” since he vowed to implement the death penalty.

In his Thimarafushi speech, Yameen defended his proposal to raise the retirement age from 65 to 74, denying the opposition’s claim that the MVR5,000 (US$324) monthly old age allowance would be discontinued. Senior citizens who continue in government jobs after 65 would receive a higher allowance, he said, stressing that no one would be forced to work beyond the present retirement age. The policy change targets workers such as teachers, doctors and nurses who do not wish to retire, he said.

Speaking on Kandoodhoo island, Yameen criticised the opposition’s pledge to recover stolen assets, saying the MDP government was unable to do so during its three years in power. Individuals involved in a corruption scandal from the 1990s were part of the opposition team, he alleged.

In his 13-island tour of the Faafu and Dhaalu atolls, opposition running mate Faisal Naseem said the coalition government would rule for five years, a stance since reiterated by several figures in the joint opposition. The process of seeking public opinion before finalising the coalition manifesto – as opposed to the MDP ‘blue economy’ manifesto – is ongoing, the lawmaker said.

Ibu Solih meanwhile accepted a petition from the people of Vaikaradhoo for developing resorts in the northern Haa Dhaal atoll. The opposition candidate pledged to develop resorts for job creation by facilitating investment. On Neykurendhoo, he pledged to declare the island’s mangrove forest – the third largest in Asia – a protected area and introduce guesthouse tourism. He reiterated pledges to empower island councils and pursue a decentralisation policy.

On Monday night, the opposition held a rally on Kulhudhuffushi, the main population hub of the northern atolls. Ibu took half an hour to shake the hands of the large welcome party in the MDP stronghold. In his speech, he pledged to continue development projects after reviewing contracts where wrongdoing was suspected, such as inflated costs.

In an MDP-led coalition government, Kulhudhuffushi will be accorded city status and developed as the northern urban centre, he said. Ibu made numerous pledges for the island, including upgrading the hospital to tertiary level, lowering tariffs for its port and building an airport in line with the people’s wishes.

Kicking off a 13-island tour of Baa atoll, the first lady told Kihaadhoo islanders that she enjoys working closely with the public but voters need to re-elect Yameen for her to continue the charity work and help the disabled, single mothers and people with special needs.

Over on the southern island of Fuvuhmulah, running mate Dr Mohamed Shaheem said Yameen was the only president who would not allow any space for irreligious, secular or anti-Islamic people. Aside from responding to allegations, the ruling party was conducting a “positive, constructive, compassionate” campaign, he claimed.

He also alleged that foreigners were behind alleged attempts to remove Yameen from office.