First lady starts door-to-door campaign

The first lady on Monday visited homes in Malé as part of the campaign to re-elect President Abdulla Yameen.

Fathmath Ibrahim went to 10 homes in the Machchangoalhi ward of the capital and handed over gifts from her charity foundation, local media reported. The contents of the gift package were not clear.

She will be visiting houses across the city to learn about living standards, Ibrahim Muaz Ali, spokesman of her campaign office, told Mihaaru.

Since launching Yameen’s re-election campaign in January last year, the first lady has overseen several campaign events and toured the atolls with teams of lawmakers and ministers.

Most recently, she led campaign rallies in the southern atolls of Laamu and Fuvahmulah.

In a rare speech at the Fuvahmulah rally the past weekend, she urged Maldivian men to take her husband as an example, praising Yameen for allowing her to be politically active.

She urged voters to re-elect the president to continue his economic development agenda.

Popularly known as Madam Fathun, the first lady has stirred controversy in the past with her political and charity work.

She previously came under fire for distributing cash during visits with the chronically ill at the hospital and visits to households in Malé.

In January 2017, the anti-graft watchdog ruled out corruption in the distribution of dates gifted by Saudi Arabia under the name of the first lady’s charity.

Madam Fathmath Ibrahim mahchangoalhee geybisee thakuge haalu EMME GAATHUN bahlavaalahvaifi.
Saabahey madam Fathun #RY2018 IA Yageen pic.twitter.com/8J9E1zVKt1

— Zubey2018 (@Umeedhee16) May 7, 2018

Little campaign tip: Don’t walk into people’s homes/bedrooms wearing your sandals, especially if they are not wearing any. It’s disrespectful. pic.twitter.com/FPuhKCompD

— Mickail Naseem 🎈 (@MickailNaseem) May 7, 2018

ވަރަށް ހިންގުންތެރި ފަސްޓް ލޭޑީއެއް ފާތުން އެއީ.މުޅި ދީބް ދެކުނު އެންމެ ހީވާގި ލޭޑީ. pic.twitter.com/po3XAVhHAD

— Fathimath Rahma (@fathimath_rahma) May 7, 2018