President blasts MPs over Parliament suspension

President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has strongly criticized Parliament members and condemned the indefinite suspension of the Parliament sessions. Speaking at the commemoration ceremony of Lance Corporal Adam Haleem, who was stabbed to death on July 22 while on duty, President Waheed said that the situation within the Parliament needs to be reviewed and that it is of concern that the MPs can behave as they please.

“I’m deeply disappointed and condemn the fact that the Parliament is at a standstill when a policy needs to be adopted and much work needs to be done through the Parliament to sustain that policy, protect and strengthen state institutions,” President Waheed said.

“The Parliament needs to do its work. The tax earned by the people of this country by working day and night is paid, which we use to provide the salary of the employees of state institutions. This is not something we get from a fruit borne from a tree we plant by just sitting at home,” President said.

President Waheed said that Maldives is a unitary state; however some people are working against the system to their own views and benefit. “This country will not survive like that,” he said.

He said that introducing political adversary in to the Parliament and the use of heavy-handed tactics will not be taken up by someone sincere to the people. The President also urged Parliamentarians to resume the Parliament sessions during a time of political and financial crisis.

President Waheed noted that some people would disapprove him for criticizing the Parliament; however he said that it is made obligatory on him to observe the smooth functioning of the Parliament and even the Judiciary.

The Parliament Speaker Abdulla Shahid on Tuesday indefinitely suspended Parliament sessions under the authority afforded to the Speaker in Article 213 (5) of the rule of procedure after deliberations with the leaders of political parties to seek a peaceful resolution.
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