State resources clearly misused for PNC rally: Maaz Saleem
MDP submitted a case to ACC alleging PNC's MVR 60 million rally misused state resources and facilitated corruption
Maaz Saleem speaking to RaajjeMV after being summoned to the police - 14-03-2025
Ahmed “Maaz” Saleem, a member of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) National Congress, has stated that a rally costing MVR 60 million has never been held in the history of the Maldives, and it is evident that state resources were misused for the main ruling People's National Congress’s (PNC) mass rally.
After submitting a case to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) alleging that the PNC's MVR 60 million grand rally, where attendees were brought from various parts of the country, constituted acts facilitating corruption, Saleem noted that such cases often remain uninvestigated due to political influence. He has called for a thorough investigation into the case.
Information about the massive expenditure by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's party, PNC, on a rally in Malé City on November 14 has been disclosed by the public and reported in the media. MP for Meedhoo constituency, Abdul Rahman, stated in a post on ‘X’ that MVR 50 million was being spent on the rally, adding that an "unlimited budget" had been allocated for organizing the event.
Despite such a significant expenditure, public concern has arisen because political parties are state-funded institutions, and it is mandatory for them to prepare audit reports of their spending. In addition to this, funds received as donations can only be spent after being deposited into the party's official account.
Given these circumstances, it is clear that a substantial amount of money was spent in a manner that facilitates corruption. Reports indicate that the largest portions of the expenditure went toward transportation for bringing attendees from the islands to Malé and back, as well as providing them with pocket money and accommodation.
