Leaders are obliged to serve the people, corruption should be punished: ex-MP Nazim

Elected officials are required to protect and preserve the wealth of a nation and its people, and those who have assisted in ‘squandering’ it will face penalty, says former Madaveli MP Mohamed Nazim.

Speaking to RaajjeTV on Wednesday night, Nazim said that Maldivian presidents are legally and, by way of oath, religiously obliged to pursue the interests of the public.

Nazim, who ran and won his parliamentary seat on a ticket from the Maldivian Democratic party, expressed his conviction that president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih would combat corruption and abuse of power.

In this regard, Nazim said that Solih’s government, to be formed after Solih takes his oath of office on November 17th, will eradicate the culture of corruption that he described as being widespread and seeped well into state institutions of the country.

“Yameen should not convince himself that he can squander the wealth of this country, which belongs to the people and their children. He cannot do this and he should be subject to a trial for it”, Nazim said.

Further adding that a crackdown on corruption will supplement the Joint Opposition’s cause of ensuring stability in the Maldives and ensuring justice and equality for all citizens, Solih and the members of the parties in the opposition coalition will be relentless in doing so.