Nasheed: Govt’s involvement in private sector a ‘communist’ approach

The current administration’s attempt to get involved in private sector trade is a very communist approach, states Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leader and Parliament speaker, former president Mohamed Nasheed.

Nasheed – who is competing against President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for MDP’s presidential ticket – made the comment during a campaign event in R. Hulhudhuffaaru on Tuesday morning.

Speaking at the event, he criticized President Solih’s administration for involvement in the private sector.

“This is a very communist, very outdated, very nonsensical mentality. State-owned enterprises aren’t profitable companies. You are the ones who pay for the operational costs, the salaries, the payments for the work they do, and everything,” he said.

Nasheed’s comments come after he said during a meeting with taxi drivers Thursday that he was considering making taxi service a government-run service.

President Solih had criticized Nasheed’s plan during a campaign event in B. Eydhafushi on Monday.

On Tuesday, Nasheed said MDP’s policies had always been focused on empowering private businesses, and developing islands and creating jobs through private businesses.

“Expansion of state-owned enterprises is an obstacle to private business. State-owned enterprises are seeing massive expansion again now,” he said.

“I am here before you because I am concerned. We have begun hearing about the 1980s again. Words foreign to democracy. Talk that the people must vote in accordance with the aspirations of the government. And especially the assumption that people employed at state-owned enterprises and in government jobs must vote in accordance with what the government wants.”

Nasheed said MDP had always advocated for a shift in that mentality, and to empower each and every citizen to vote as they wish.

It is wrong to think that development of local communities requires servitude to the leaders, he said.

Nasheed said President Solih’s approach had led to the introduction of a ‘Maumoon-like’ ideology within MDP.