Monday, August 18, 2008

Does it matter if Nasheed has any ambitions?

I don’t think so. But he has made clear he has none. Let us believe him. He has talked about this on more than one occasion. Read the article on The New Maldivian.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Maldives has never mixed governance with business – let’s keep it that way

Qasim’s decision to contest the presidential elections may create bad history. The Maldivians have so far been sensible enough not to mix governance with business. Thanks to Qasim, such principles and values are to be a thing of the past. Read the article on The New Maldives.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Qasim v Shinawatra

Thaksin Shinawatra, a successful Thai businessman, entered politics in 1994 by joining the Phalang Dharma Party. Read the article on The New Maldives.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Qayyoom's campaign far from convincing

DRP’s presidential nominee Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom and his running mate Ahmed Thasmeen Ali’s launching of their campaign on 08.08.08 was slick in design but flabby in execution. Read the article on The New Maldivian.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

The president of Aneh Dhivehi Raajje accuses Jumhooree Party of bribery

The president of Aneh Dhivehiraajje, Anni has said that his campaign for the next presidential election would be clean. Read the article on The New Maldives.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Just what does Jumhooree Party stand for?

Dr Munawwar’s resignation as President of MDP is not surprising. Thanks to Anni’s autocratic style, MDP’s marginalization has come much earlier than many people had anticipated. Read the article on The New Maldives.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Congratulations to Shihab and Aneesa

Having been given the opportunity to preside over just one sitting of the Majlis, Hassan Afeef (Th – MDP) did not waste any time to use (or abuse?) the authority of the Speaker’s chair. Read the article on The New Maldives.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Section 119 must be revisited

On Thursday, August 7th, 2008, I wrote an article highlighting the fact that as Republican Party’s prospective presumptive presidential nominee, Qasim Ibrahim presided over the proceedings of the Special Majlis on August 26th, 2008, there was a conflict of interest. Read the article on The New Maldives.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Not to follow Qasim’s footsteps

The very first walk-out by a group of Special MPs towards the end of 2004 was about Qasim Ibrahim who wanted to be elected Speaker of the Special Majlis. Read the article on The New Maldivian.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Has money prevailed over democracy?

It is often described that the US president is the most powerful person on earth.
In the Maldives, the most powerful person, under the 1998 constitution was, and under constitution ratified on August 7th, 2008 is, the president. People say that these two documents compared, the latter is better in every way. Read the article on The New Maldives.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Has Diyana Saeed compromised her conscience?

Diyana Saeed was one of the Special MPs who took points of order to protest against Qasim’s dictatorial conduct in the Special Majlis. Read the article on The New Maldives.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Finally Qasim tells a truth

Qasim Ibrahim, finally, admits that he is interested to contest the upcoming presidential polls. I congratulate him for plucking up the courage to publicly concede that he’s not been honest with the public about his intentions. Read the article on The New Maldives.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Ratification and beyond

The new constitution is (or the amendments to the 1998 constitution are?) to be ratified tomorrow, the 7th of August 2008, Insha Allah. Read the article on The New Maldives.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

‘Cabinet Debacle and 116’ – farce or deceit?

Following the 9/11 attacks on the US, President Bush proposed and the Congress passed legislation to create the Department of Homeland Security in late 2002. In the UK, the Home Office was split in early 2007 into two departments, the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice, both to be headed by a Secretary of State. Here, such an action by the government does not require legislation. Read the article on The New Maldives.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Is Ibra a jack of all trades?

On Friday unofficial presidential candidate Ibrahim Isamil (Ibra) implied, having earlier said otherwise, that President Qayyoom cannot run for president under the draft constitution whose ratification is reportedly imminent. Read the article on The New Maldives.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Looking beyond the 48-hour week

A number of commentators, including Nasheed, Dr Shareef, and Himeyn Inqilaab, have written about the new Employment Act and its possible impact on tourism workers. Read the article on The New Maldives.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Should we allow foreigners to meddle in politics in our country?

I am really concerned about MDP's policy of inviting foreigners to campaign for them. I am afraid that it may give the opportunity to foreigners to meddle in politics in our country. I am worried that it may lead to a proliferation of such invitations to foreigners. Read the article on The New Maldives.