Ghafoor: This administration is a massive gang of thieves; it lacks characteristics of a government

The Chairperson of the MDP and Member of Parliament, Abdul Ghafoor Moosa, has characterized President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration as a "major gang of thieves."

Speaking at an MDP rally held in Addu, Ghafoor launched a scathing attack on the government. He asserted that the current administration does not function as a legitimate government, but rather as a large gang of thieves. He further alleged that they are plundering and exhausting the state's public funds, adding that they act as if they have no sense of their own mortality.

Ghafoor stated that over the past three years, this administration has been allocated budgetary funds at a scale unprecedented by any previous government in the Maldives. He alleged that despite being granted 170 billion Rufiyaa, the government has failed to deliver any meaningful benefits to the public. Furthermore, he asserted that the current administration has accumulated debt at a rate higher than any other government in Maldivian history. Providing further details, Ghafoor noted that the government has incurred 43 billion Rufiyaa in debt within the last three years alone. He concluded that this borrowing has resulted in no tangible progress for the nation.

Highlighting ongoing corruption within the government, Ghafoor stated that the state has lost approximately two billion Rufiyaa in customs revenue due to illicit activities surrounding the hike in cigarette duties. He further criticized the authorities over the unexplained disappearance of two 40-foot containers of cigarettes that were under the supervision of Maldives Customs Service and Maldives Ports Limited (MPL).

Ghafoor further stated that two oil tankers remained within Maldivian territorial waters for seven days without the government's knowledge. He noted that upon subsequent inspection, the vessels were found to be empty.