News Desk
MALE’ — President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has rejected claims that he travelled to Singapore during the Eid holidays for secret political negotiations, calling the allegations a level of fabrication that goes beyond any existing category of lying.
Speaking at a press conference at the President’s Office today, President Muizzu said the trip was a family holiday and that he had no discussions, negotiations or contact with Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim during the visit. He said the Maldivian Ambassador to Singapore, staff at the High Commission and personnel from MACL could all confirm the private nature of his schedule.
“I went to Singapore on holiday to spend some time with my family,” he said. “I have nothing to talk about, discuss, or negotiate with Nazim, nor have I even thought about it. I used to think a downright fabrication was the highest tier of lying, but this has gone even beyond that. We need a new word for this.”
The President also denied separate rumours that a coordinated effort was under way to remove Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef through a no-confidence motion, dismissing the claims as politically motivated fiction in the same category as the Singapore allegations.
The rumours gained traction last week amid rapid developments in the People’s Majlis. The PNC parliamentary group submitted a no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim. Nazim resigned rather than face the vote. Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem was elected as his replacement during today’s parliamentary session. Opposition figures circulated claims that President Muizzu had flown to Singapore to manage the political fallout from the Nazim situation.
President Muizzu said his trip had been planned well before any of the parliamentary developments occurred and that drawing a connection between his holiday and Nazim’s resignation was entirely without basis.
