The Chief Communications Strategist at the President's Office, Ibrahim Hood, has responded to criticisms against the state's national security decisions.
While speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday morning, Hood stated that the first step in addressing an issue is to acknowledge it. Likewise, he referred to the significant numbers of Maldivians participating in the conflict in Syria.
In the past seven or so years, national security issues have been hidden and not shared with the public. The first step to addressing a problem is to acknowledge it. That is what the administration is doing. The Maldives has an issue regarding national security such as the rising number of extremists and it's subsequent problems. That is why the most important step in solving a problem is to acknowledge it.Ibrahim Hood
As such, Hood declared that a problem cannot be solved without accepting that there is a problem first in the first place. While stating that the previous regimes were in denial regarding the threat of extremist ideologies spreading around the country, he claimed that the current administration is simply acknowledging that the problem exists.
As the country is currently in the "peak" season for tourism due to the holidays, many have voiced concerns over Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF)'s decision to heighten security across the country. The military readiness alert has been lifted to Yellow Two "in the interest of national security."
While Hood- also the official spokesperson fro the president -stated that the yellow alert was issued as a precautionary security measure following the increase in tourist arrivals to the country, the increased security comes after authorities launched a special counter-terrorism operation.
