Monday
18th Nov 2024
Dhivehi Edition
Minister of State for National Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure Akram Kamaluddin has requested Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) to allow him to compete for Presidency of Male' constituency in the MDP National Majilis elections.
MDP has declared Akram ineligible as he is currently being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
In a letter addressed to MDP Chairperson Hassan Latheef, Akram claimed that although he was on a list published by ACC in 2018, the commission has stated that he is not suspected of corruption.
The State Minister clarified the terms that render an individual ineligible for the MDP National Majilis elections; if ACC requests an organization not to allow the individual to partake in the National Majilis elections as they are suspected of being involved in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption. Akram reiterated that ACC has not written to any organization regarding his involvement in the MMPRC case.
The letter read that the Anti-Corruption Act mandates ACC to publish a report on those the commission considers responsible for an issue, but no such report has been drafted in relation to Akram.
State Minister Akram stated that it is against party policy to prohibit him from partaking in the elections. Changing the criteria for candidates this close to the elections contradicts democratic policies, he said. He added that the MDP National Council cannot add conditions that are not included in the party's regulations.