Maldives' lawmakers congratulate Malaysia's opposition on historic win, says 'gives hope to Maldivians'

Members of the People’s Majlis have started praising the Malaysian people, following the opposition’s historic win in the general elections.

While a number of opposition lawmakers took to twitter to congratulate the opposition alliance, led by the country’s former ruler Dr. Mahathir Mohamed, they noted that their victory ‘gives hopes’ to Maldivians, that are dealing with similar circumstances.

Former Speaker and current North-Henveiru constituency MP Abdulla Shahid praised the Malaysian people’s ‘courage’, and that ‘what we are seeing right before our eyes is the strength of good relations’.

“The people can end [President] Yameen’s tyrannical rule”, he added.

South-Galolhu constituency MP Ahmed Mahloof, who recently met with the woman poised to be Malaysia’s first deputy prime minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, congratulated her and Mahathir, adding that ‘Malaysia has given hope to Maldivian’.

Mahloof further said that he believes that it is time for former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Wan Aziza’s husband, to be released, and noted that ‘[Anwar’s] sacrifice will remain always in many hearts’. Wan Aziza entered the political arena after her husband was fired and imprisoned, and has since contested and won her husband’s former seat at Pertmatang Pauh in Penang.

North-Maafannu constituency MP Imthiyaz Fahmy highlighted that the Malaysian people have said ‘a strong no to a thief,’ and that it will be the Maldivians that do so next. Addu Meedhoo constituency MP Rozaina Adam also noted that the Malaysian general elections have Maldivians, and that the Joint Opposition can ‘get rid of Yameen’s corrupt dictatorship’ if they work together.

Gan constituency MP Fayyaz Ismail said that the Malaysian story ‘could be mistaken’ for Maldives’, and that this was a ‘great triumph for democracy, future of Asia and a blinding light of hope for Maldivians’.

92-year-old Mahathir’s coalition took 121 of the 222 seats in Malaysia’s parliament, ending Barisan Nasional’s 61-year rule since the country’s independence. With this win, Mahathir is set to return to the prime minister's Office he previously occupied for 22 years.