The most famed television station across the nation is undoubtedly RaajjeTV, says President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Addressing the management and staff of RaajjeTV during his visit to the station on Thursday morning, Solih said that it has remained his perpetual dream to see a Maldives in which media and journalism has freedom. Solih went on to highlight that RaajjeTV staff will be some of the most well-experienced journalists having been the ones who rose about continuous threats and immense repression while on field and carrying out their duties.

Solih asserted that RaajjeTV is one of the channels that have experienced the fear of repression and threats to independent journalism.

“RaajjeTV is one of the places targeted the most. The things the station went through during the Presidential Elections of 2013 were observed nation-wide. However, RaajjeTV did not back down or take a step back. As such, the fame and popularity you have gained now, is the result of your hard work” said President-elect Solih.

Solih further went on to add that RaajjeTV is the first channel he tunes into at the beginning of his day.

“RaajjeTV is my source of information and always brings the hottest, freshest news. I express my heart-felt gratitude for your tireless work” said Solih.

Solih, who is to be sworn in as Maldives next President for a tenure of five years, also said that the first group he wanted to meet after his victory in the Presidential election in September, was the staff of RaajjeTV. As such, he said that he observed the work of the station’s staff, very closely stressing that he had very closely observed the hardships the station’s journalists and cameramen had faced during his campaign trips. However, Solih commended the staff for pushing aside said difficulties and wading through it to bring the latest news to the people as conveniently as they could, under unmanageable conditions too.

Solih praised and encouraged the work of the station, and expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome received upon his arrival on Thursday morning.