Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said that leaders of President Mohamed Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC) are “trembling” with fear over the documentary ‘Bailakka‘ (Half a Lakh) produced by Adhadhu news. Bailakka, according to the paper, focuses on the distribution of money to PNC members by President Muizzu.
Speaking at a People’s National Front (PNF) rally on Thursday, Yameen said journalists bring public attention—and the attention of the state—to stories that they find credible.
The seven-minute Dhivehi-language documentary short shows Member of Parliament (MP) for Dhuvaafaru, Mohamed Ali, along with another unnamed person, entering President Muizzu’s private residence on Sunday evening, then exiting with a bulky black bag and transporting it, via motorcycle, to the PNC office—following which a large number of PNC MPs are seen separately entering and exiting the PNC office.
According to Adhadhu, reliable sources within PNC had confirmed to the paper that payments from the President were, at that time, being distributed to the MPs. However, when the MPs captured on video were questioned, they claimed ignorance of any money being distributed and denied any payments were made to them citing different reasons for their visit to the PNC Office, the documentary detailed.
MP Ali, and the PNC leadership, were unavailable for comment even though repeated attempts were made, through calls and text messages, to get a response on the matter, the report outlined.
The President’s Office also distributed money to PNC members that evening, the paper quotes as reliable sources confirming.
The President’s Office, when the documentary went viral, threatened to take action against them, the paper said.
“The state had a strong warning when Adhadhu newspaper started addressing these things. This has become an administration of warnings [threats],” Yameen said at the rally.
“If there is no basis for those stories, why should you tremble,” he said.
“There’s some truth in it that makes you quake so much. Otherwise, why would you worry about it?” the former President stated.
While being in a position of power and influence, the public will talk about the President, Yameen explained.
“Is this democracy, is this [protected] freedom of expression? There is freedom of expression in the Maldives. The people have the right to speak about it as much as Members of Parliament do, the Constitution gives them that right. That freedom should exist. Leaders, in a democracy, should conduct themselves within that freedom,” Yameen explained as he seemingly characterised Muizzu’s reaction towards criticism as punitive.
He also questioned the decision making process, by the administration, before the President’s Office issued the warning against the newspaper. The action seeks to intimidate and to make it seem as though the paper is lying, the PNF leader said.
“But if action is taken against every active newspaper which does this [their job], it tells a million stories,” he said.
According to Adhadhu, some PNC supporters, in addition to party MPs, are also threatening the newspaper over the documentary.