MP Faris' constituents call to cease motion against speaker
Dhiggaru island’s council called on MP Faris Maumoon to end ‘all forms of hostility’ towards the government, through a statement on Sunday.
MP Faris Maumoon at RaajjeTelevision studio, when he appeared on a talk-show for the broadcaster earlier in March.
The local government of his own constituency has asked MP Faris Maumoon to end his pursuit of ousting speaker of parliament Abdulla Maseeh.
Dhiggaru island’s council called on MP Maumoon to end ‘all forms of hostility’ towards the government, through a press statement on Sunday.
The statement, which claims to represent the council and the island’s residents, expressed concern over the parliamentarian’s recent actions ‘in defiance of the government’ adding that they contradict the wishes of his constituents.
It further said that the island voted for MP Maumoon in the ‘hopes that he would attain development by working with the government’.
“We humbly ask that you cease your current hostility towards the government, and carry out your responsibilities in line with the people’s expectations and wishes” the statement read.
The statement highlights its support for the government, describing residents of the island to have worked just as hard to elect it as they had worked to elect its parliamentary representative, and expressed disappointment that they may no longer have the representation that they envisioned.
While MP Maumoon’s 'constituents' explicitly described the no-confidence motion to be ‘unacceptable’, he has been spearheading it.
The motion was filed on 8th March, with 26 signatures from lawmakers aligned with every political party and an independent member.
The six-point motion accuses speaker Maseeh of ‘refusing to ensure’ equality in parliament, disregarding the rule of law, disrespecting the system of checks and balances, harbouring disregard for procedure, and ‘subverting’ democracy.
While former President Gayoom has expressed his strong support for the motion, calling it an ‘important move to the reform’, his son has said that the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives’ faction loyal to Gayoom has faced considerable restriction and ‘harassment’ from its rival faction – loyal to President Abdulla Yameen. As such, he had previously assured his personal unyielding commitment to the motion.
