'No' vote in referendum necessary because government's words and actions do not align: Ahmed Haleem

Former Member of Parliament for the Bilehdhoo constituency, Ahmed Haleem, has stated that the public must vote "no" in the upcoming referendum because the government’s actions consistently fail to align with its rhetoric.

Speaking on RaajjeTV’s "Noonekey" program, Haleem stated that the government’s initial justification for holding a referendum was to reduce costs. However, he noted that it is now becoming clear to the public that this was a falsehood. He further pointed out that, judging by the government's current actions, it is evident that state expenditure has reached extreme levels.

Haleem further stated that the current administration is strongly considering reducing the frequency of elections, adding that the government has already caused significant damage to the decentralization system.

I urge the Maldivian people to come out on April 4th and vote for MDP’s scale, while simultaneously casting a resounding "no" in this referendum.

Ahmed Haleem, the former Member of Parliament for the Bilehdhoo constituency.

Haleem further stated that there are certain constitutional principles upon which the Maldivian people have reached a consensus, including the requirement to conduct elections in a transparent manner. He noted that previous elections have generally proceeded without significant issues, ensuring that the integrity of the results remains credible.

However, noting that doubts have emerged today regarding whether the process will proceed as planned, Haleem stated that the issues arising from these uncertainties could potentially lead to significant public unrest.

Furthermore, Haleem stated that the government's rhetoric regarding this vote lacks consistency between words and actions, adding that this discrepancy is the primary reason for choosing to vote "no."