Saeed’s flashy TikTok strategy lands with a massive thud

Supporters can pledge their unwavering loyalty and send endless bouquets of roses, but still recognize when a political ally is heading straight into an obvious trap.

Even the most dedicated party insiders, who view themselves as unmatched in their devotion, must admit that doing everything the incumbent instructs does not guarantee success.

Effort and obedience deserve praise, but executing every single directive without reflection only blinds a official to the impending fallout that outside observers see plain as day.

Trapped by his own words

The old adage holds true that a person becomes a slave to their own words once spoken.

This exact scenario has ensnared Minister of Economic Development, Transport and Trade Mohamed Saeed. To secure power, he was positioned as the primary voice on economic recovery, promising to support the economy from all four sides to prevent a collapse even if it remained stagnant.

Alongside President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, he relentlessly argued that it was irrelevant how Ibrahim and his administration managed affairs or supposedly ruined the financial system.

From Muizzu speed to Indian refuge

Once in office, no one spoke with more arrogance than Saeed, who boldly assured the public that securing a parliamentary majority would bring the dollar rate back down to its fair value.

Citizens celebrated these grand promises and granted the requested majority. Instead of dropping, exchange rates surged at rocket speed, or rather, "Muizzu speed", reaching unprecedented highs with zero relief in sight.

Sent to China under the guise of an economic genius, Saeed brought back "green signals" that left the incumbent overjoyed, only for those signals to vanish into thin air.

Ultimately, the administration was forced into desperate appeals to neighboring India.

Every piece of rhetoric used to seize power backfired, triggering a massive U-turn that forced them to toss aside their pride, seek refuge in India’s lap, and, as Siyam put it, end up in the exact same bed.

Wild promises and fantasy projects

Rather than staying quiet after these embarrassing setbacks, Saeed doubled down with renewed energy, spewing even grander, hollow guarantees.

He touted a bunkering service that would allegedly net 400 billion, a Development Bank to single-handedly diversify the economy, multi-million USD deals brokered through a Saudi Prince, and a monorail link to Funadhoo.

Going strictly by his rhetoric, the nation should be thriving so much that even Singapore would be left mystified by such rapid heights, while as Arif pointed out, ordinary citizens are left viewing basic fish broth and rice as a luxury.

Turkish luxury meets harsh market realities

While Saeed enjoys Turkey from the comfort of air-conditioned rooms and looks down on ASEAN nations, everyday citizens struggle just to afford basic necessities. Watching his sleek videos and viewing the promotional lists he publishes twice daily only fuels public rage.

Ordinary people face real prices when walking into stores, a reality completely hidden from a high-ranking official who never has to step foot inside a shop.

Fish struggles as the excuses fail

The repetitive "TikTok" routine is no longer gaining any traction.

Continuing to blame the former administration, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) as well as money printing, and various other excuses only degrades his credibility further, resembling a struggling fish losing its scales the more it thrashes around.

Having replaced Ibrahim and his team, those old scapegoats no longer hold water, and repeating them merely infuriates the public. Even the businessmen brought in to bolster his image failed to deliver. These figures were simply looking out for their own survival, and in the staged video, they merely claimed they would try to stop prices from escalating further given the circumstances.

Saeed continues trying to talk his way out of a corner, but times have changed. Contrary to what he and Muizzu might believe, the public is far from foolish, and flooding social media with TikToks twice a day will not save him from the reality of his own words.