President asked to oppose secret vote- Azim

Meduhenveyru MP Ali Azim, who has to pay Bank of Maldives more than 117 million Rufiya as repayment for loan has accused President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan and Press Secretary of the President’s Office Abbas Adil Riza of asking him to oppose the motion on taking secret votes in no confidence motions against the President and Members of the Cabinet.

In the debate which preceded the vote DRP’s Meduhenveyru MP Ali Azim said President’s Office Spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza and President’s Adviser Ahmed Thoufeeg asked him to oppose the secret vote and Azim’s BML loan case will then be made amenable.  

Azim said that the President himself called him and asked him personally to oppose the motion on taking secret votes in no confidence motions against the President and Members of the Cabinet.

Azim said that court order to produce him in court by keeping him in detention was issued to threaten him. He said that the government has been threatening the members of the Majlis regarding the motion on taking secret votes in no confidence motions. He said that secret votes should be taken in no confidence motions against leaders.

Abbas and Thoufeeg have denied Azim’s statement. Abbas strongly condemned Azim for making such lies and said if not for the privileges Azim enjoys as an MP, they would have sued the MP for spreading these lies.

Abbas aid he is ready to sue Azim in the civil court against   lies he has told but the problem is as per rules paseed by the parliamentarians there is no way to charge them in the court. Abbas said such rules totally un acceptable since a crime has to be  a crime for every one and no one should be exempted from it.