No one can say voting for a particular person is Haram - Sheikh Nizar

Tuesday, 21 October 2008

12:32

(left) Dr. Abdullah Didi, (center) Athif Shakoor & Sheikh Nizar

MALE, Maldives — President of the Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) Religious Wing, Sheikh Moosa Nizar and renowned Maldivian Islamic scholar, Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Didi spoke to the press at the 1200hr conference held at the Maumoon 2008 Campaign Media Office yesterday. Media Manager Ibrahim Athif Shakoor acted as moderator.

Sheikh Nizar and Dr. Abdullah Didi condemned Adalat Party (AP) President Sheikh Hussein Rasheed Ahmed’s claim that voting for DRP Presidential candidate incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is Haram (legally forbidden by Islamic law) calling his statement baseless and ludicrous.

Athif Shakoor updated the press on campaign events while All Youth Linkage (AYL) sports club repesentative Azim Hussein clarified rumors regarding their connection with the DRP.

Updates

Athif Shakoor told members of the press that the DRP campaign contingent, including Gayoom, was in Fuvahmulah Island yesterday following the Hithadhoo Island rally on the night of 19th October where Presidential running mate Ahmed Thasmeen Ali had joined the DRP campaign contingent.

Clarification

Azim Hussein

AYL sports club representative Hussein clarified rumors of the club’s involvement at a Maumoon 2008 Campaign chapter house on Chandani Street. Hussein said that members of the AP had said at a recent rally that a man who goes by the name of “Hinmafushi” Hussein had told the AP’s Sheikh Ilyas Hussein that he is a member of the AYL and that he can testify that the club runs the DRP Chandani St. chapter house.

Hussein said that he was disappointed to find these rumors reported by the local press who he said had not contacted him for comment. He said that his and other AYL members’ contact numbers have been provided to members of the press.

Hussein confirmed to the press that no one by the name of ”Hinmafushi” Hussein is registered as a member of AYL. He also said that his club is not campaigning for the DRP although they had been at the Chandani St. chapter house on a few occasions.

Permissible

Sheikh Nizar and Dr. Abdullah Didi both condemned AP President Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed’s claim that voting for Gayoom is Haram. Dr. Abdullah Didi, an Islamic scholar who received his doctorate from Egypt’s Azhar University, said that Halal (legally permissbile under Islamic law) and Haram cannot be decided without supporting evidence from the Holy Quran or the Hadith (Prophet Mohamed’s actions and sayings).

Sheikh Nizar urged politicians and political activists to refrain from making careless statements about Islam for the sake of garnering political support.

Sheikh Nizar also condemned the AP’s Sheikh Ilyas Hussein’s comments on the Prophet’s person as misguided and highly disrespectful. He said that Sheikh Hussein had said at an AP rally that anyone can voice their religious opinions as the Prophet himself never had a diploma himself. Sheikh Nizar said that he is shocked and deeply saddened by Sheikh Hussein’s statements.

Popular musician “Fulu” Nashid joins DRP

Sunday, 19 October 2008

22:01

Nashid signs up

MALE, Maldives — Singer, songwriter, and composer of Zero Degree Atoll, Ahmed “Fulu” Nashid, signed up to join the Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party at about 2130hrs tonight.

The signing is Nashid’s first official sign of endorsement although he had performed and composed Adhi Hunnavaashey Fas Aharu (stay 5 years more) - the theme song for DRP Presidential candidate incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s Maumoon 2008 Campaign.

Zero Degree Atoll is famed for being the first band which created a uniquely Maldivian style of music and Nashid is credited along with his band for their innovativity in fusing elements of Dhivehi folk music and poetry with contemporary instrumentations. Nashid has released a solo jazz album titled Bird in Flight to great success in addition to his band’s much acclaimed Dhoni (Maldivian word for vessel) album.

Upholding democratic spirit takes precedence over competitivity - Dr. Mausoom

Sunday, 19 October 2008

16:20

Dr. Mausoon (R) and Athif Shakoor

MALE, Maldives — Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) senior member current Minister for Environment, Energy and Water Dr. Abdullah Mausoom elaborated on DRP environment policy at the 1200hr press conference held at the Maumoon 2008 Campaign Media Office today. Campaign Media Manager Ibrahim Athif Shakoor also spoke to the press regarding current political issues.

Civil Disobedience

Athif Shakoor condemned rumored calls for civil disobedience following the elections. He denied allegations of DRP involvement in these activities.

Athif Shakoor spoke to the press about violent confrontations between DRP and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters which took place recently in Addu as well. He urged party members and well-wishers to stop personalizing political issues to the point of committing acts of violence.

He said that the first round of voting went relatively smoothly as voter support was spread among 6 different candidates but that now support is very polarized. He said that this polarization should not be allowed to become an obstacle to party members rights to listen to or promote their candidate’s message. He called for all party activists to allow each other the political space to make their decisions.

Southern Campaign

Athif Shakoor updated the press on DRP Presidential candidate incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s ongoing campaign tour of Addu Atoll.

He said that Gayoom visited the islands of Maradhoo and Feydhoo yesterday. He said that a campaign rally was held in Feydhoo Island where in addition to Gayoom, senior DRP member current Minister for Legal Reform, Information and Arts Mohamed Nasheed addressed the island’s residents.

Athif Shakoor said that DRP Presidential running mate Ahmed Thasmeen Ali left for Hithadhoo Island in Addu where he will be addressing the residents with Gayoom at a rally to be held there tonight.

Ecology & Environment

Dr. Mausoom said that DRP environmental policy, outlined in the Maumoon 2008 manifesto, places the highest priority on providing means for the public to economize while protecting the environment at the same time. He said that the use of renewable energy instead of the diesel-fuelled generators currently in use will be introduced under a DRP government.

He also said that the DRP environmental policy includes plans to provide disposal systems for general and hazardous waste in the atolls. He also said that the DRP government plans to federalize administration of environmental policy at the atoll-level.

In response to questions from the media, Dr. Mausoom also spoke of plans to raise further awareness on environmentally harmful economic activities such as shark-fishing and harvesting turtle eggs. He said that the DRP policy is to raise environmental awareness among communities so that they are empowered to monitor and prevent environmentally damaging activities.

Gayoom tours Addu Atoll

Sunday, 19 October 2008

14:01

MARADHOO ISLAND, Addu Atoll — Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) Presidential candidate incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom went to Addu Atoll yesterday where he plans to visit the islalnds as part of his campaign tour of the atolls for the runoff round of voting.

Gayoom made his first stop at Maradhoo Island where he met with the residents. His next stop was Feydhoo Island where he visited island chapters of the DRP and Maumoon 2008 Campaign.

Gayoom’s will be visiting the islands of Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo this afternoon. He will be making a special visit to Meedhoo Hospital in Meedhoo.

Gayoom’s last stop for today will be Hithadhoo Island where a rally will be held tonight.

The Maumoon 2008 Campaign said that Gayoom has received warm welcomes from all the islands the campaign team has stopped at so far.

DRP & PA members hold pick-up truck parade in Guraidhoo Island

Pick-up Truck Parade

GURAIDHOO ISLAND, Kolhumadulu Atoll – Members of the Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) and the People’s Alliance (PA) held a pick-up truck parade in support of DRP Presidential candidate incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in Guraidhoo Island, Kolhumadulu Atoll yesterday afternoon.

The pick-up truck parade was organized by the Guraidhoo branch of the DRP Women’s Wing. More than 200 people took part in this parade which included 3 trucks and 15 motorbikes.

A DRP chapter in Guradhoo Island’s Asseyri Building was opened yesterday as well.

Opening of DRP Chapter

According to our source in Guraidhoo Island, Adil Ibrahim, yesterday’s activities took place in a friendly and peaceful environment. Ibrahim also said that the DRP & PA have majority support in the island.

DRP Guraidhoo Chapter

Gayoom meets with Male cab drivers

Gayoom meets with Male cab drivers

Thursday, 16 October 2008

MALE, Maldives — Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) Presidential candidate incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom met with cab drivers operating in Male at a meeting held at Hakura Maalam (Hakura Hall) at Dharubaaruge last night.

Veracity

Gayoom said at the meeting that he feels that cab drivers have contributed to the development of the country and that the taxi services provided in the Maldives is regionally the best.

He also noted the integral role that cab drivers play in disseminating information while stressing the need to verify rumors before repeating them. He also said that Islam demands truthfulness from its followers.

Developments

Gayoom spoke at the meeting about the development that the Maldives has seen in terms of education, health and tourism in addition to other sectors.

He also said that his administration has and always will place the greatest priority in preserving the religious unity of the country. The Maldives has remained a 100% Muslim country over Gayoom’s 30 year rule.

Gayoom left the informal meeting in a taxi instead of state transportation. The serial number of the cab which drove Gayoom from Dharubaaruge is T4200

MDP-led “For the nation’s wishes” campaign’s proposed 2-year coalition government against the spirit of the constitution - Thasmeen Ali

MDP-led “For the nation’s wishes” campaign’s proposed 2-year coalition government against the spirit of the constitution - Thasmeen Ali

Thursday, 16 October 2008

MALE, Maldives — Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) Presidential running mate Ahmed Thasmeen Ali and senior DRP member Minister for Higher Education, Employment and Social Security Dr. Ibrahim Hassan spoke to the press regarding current political issues and the DRP higher education policy at the 1200hr press conference at the Maumoon 2008 Media Office today.

Maumoon 2008 Campaign Media Manager Ibrahim Athif Shakoor moderated the press conference.

Identitiy fraud

Athif Shakoor advised the general public not to share National Identity (NID) card information unless on the request of authorized officials.

He said that in order to protect one’s voting rights one has to make sure that others are not able to use personal information such as NID cards for their own purposes.

Athif Shakoor also sent his wishes to the public on the ocassion of World Food Day.

Decentralization

Dr. Hassan said that the DRP’s proposed National University will have its main campus in Male city due to lack of physical and human resources elsewhere but that campuses will be spread throughout the country.

He also said that courses will be available in both academic and vocational fields.

Expatriate Labor

Dr. Hassan said that DRP policy will focus on minimizing expatriate labor although the process will be gradual rather than immediate. He said that the Maldivian labor force does not meet the demands of the growing industrial sector and therefore expatriate labor will be a necessary asset although steps will be taken to ensure parity between local and foreign labor.

He said that as per the points in the DRP manifesto, the Government will focus on allocating a specific number of jobs for locals and achieving parity between local and foreign employment.