Wednesday, 22 October 2008
00:41
MALE, Maldives — Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) Council Member current Deputy Minister for Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources Dr. Fathin Hameed and Maumoon 2008 Campaign Deputy Media Manager Ali Waheed spoke to the press at a special 1600hr press conference held at the Media Office yesterday.
Dr. Hameed commented on allegations of corruption which revolve around the recently replaced Managing Director (MD) of the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), Adil Saleem. Waheed updated the media on recent and upcoming campaign activities.
Scandal
Dr. Hameed told the media that MIFCO’s previous MD, Saleem is accused of being involved in activities of corruption inside the company. She said that 3 petitions had been lodged against Saleem by MIFCO staff on 3 separate occasions.
She said that the first petition accuses Saleem of imposing dictatorial regulations which drastically curtailed seagoing staffs’ shore-leave durations. She said that the 2nd petition signed by more than 60 MIFCO staff accuses Saleem of selling, procuring and using company resources for his own benefit. The petition also accuses Saleem of committing acts of sexual misconduct at Kooddoo Fisheries Complex.
She said that a 3rd petition alleging imposing an inadequate wage system was lodged against Saleem as well.
She said that an investigation into the allegations made in the 2nd petition is ongoing although MIFCO’s internal investigation report shows that MIFCO management has not found proof of wrongdoing.
Events
Waheed, who had recently returned from touring the Atolls of Addu and Fuvahmulah, said that the DRP contingent’s trip was highly successful. He said that the DRP takes great pleasure in the fact that their Presidential candidate Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s message reached the two most densely populated atolls in the Maldives.
He noted the fact that the rally in Hitadu Island, Addu Atoll was broadcast on live television. He also said that citizens of the two southern atolls had good use of their access to informative campaign materials such as DRP-produced CDs.
He condemned opposition anti-campaign activities which he said had markedly increased in Gayoom’s absence.
Waheed said that Gayoom will speak with special needs individuals at a manifesto discussion meeting held from 2030-2200hrs last night. He also said that local opinion leader and popular musician Ahmed “Fulu” Nashid will perform at the DRP-organized ROCK THE VOTE concert which will be held at 2100hrs on 23 October 2008.
Contract
Waheed also denied the authenticity of the alleged contract of a political deal made between the DRP and the People’s Alliance (PA) which opposition leaders have recently revealed to the media. He said that the alleged document has not even been signed and is clearly a forgery.
He said that agreements were reached between the DRP and the PA on 22 September 2008 when formation of the DRP-PA coalition was announced but that the DRP does not believe in making deals to divide up executive power and compromise the party’s policies and principles.
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