On A Personal Note.......

I have always accepted that being in the political front line, I am always a target for libel, innuendo and damned outright lies aimed at character assassination.  I have had my fair share of mud slung at me, but none have ever really stuck. As such, I have never felt the need to explain those “creative” claims against me or reply to them. Rather I have taken the attitude that it is “all in a days work”. I know that I have never done wrong, and my morality is intact, and I continue to lead what I believe is an ethical life. Most of the general public, and especially those who support my work have never questioned my integrity, and that was enough. Before I go on, I would like to thank all those thousands of Maldivians who have held my character in high regard, and who at times, have even spoken and acted in my defense. I truly appreciate your support through thick and thin. That is one thing that helps me to keep going. Thank you, indeed for your trust and belief in me.

However there is one accusation which is being repeatedly thrown at me, which, by the sheer number of repetitions, is almost on the verge of “becoming a truth”. You see, sometimes, when even the biggest lie is repeated like a mantra oft enough, people start thinking “there must be some truth in it”. I refer to the claims made by my political opponents that President Nasheed “gave me the MES building without a bidding process” and that he also authorized 3 million rufiyaa from the education fund for me, outside the law. Both are outright lies, and I feel the time has come for me to break the silence on both issues and make public the truth.

Firstly the case of MES building. The government never gave me, or Mandhu College any rights on this building. Both EPSS and MES buildings were initially allocated to those schools for a 10 year period. After the period expired in 2006, a cabinet decision (Qayyoom’s cabinet) was made in 2008 to renew the lease agreement for another 10 years. The lease for the MES building was again signed between the Ministry of Education and Ali Mustafa and Seena Zahir. President Nasheed’s government honoured and executed a Qayyoom cabinet decision made prior to November 2008 by signing this agreement. Subsequently, Mandhu Learning Centre sub-leased the premises from Ali Mustafa and Seena Zahir. So the government never entered into a contract with me or Mandhu College. Just as Billabong School sub-leased the EPSS premises from the proprietors of EPSS school.

Subsequently, a business dispute arose between Ali Mustafa and Mandhu College, which was eventually settled with a transfer of lease agreement. I PAID 4 MILLION RUFIYA TO ALI MUSTAFA to secure that transfer, which was perfectly legal, and did not involve the government. The lawyer advising Ali Mustafa in that transfer agreement was none other than the current Attorney General Azima Shakoor.

Therefore, in essence, President Nasheed’s government, nor President Qayyoom’s government or any other government ever “gave” the MES building for me or Mandhu College, with or without a bid. Allah is my witness on this. I hear on the grapevine that the Ministry of Education and the Attorney General are in earnest discussions now, to find some way of terminating the agreements and kick Mandhu College and its students onto the streets. So be it

Secondly the 3 million rufiyaa loan.  The story goes as follows. In 2009, Mandhu College applied for a loan from the Thauleemee Fund because a great deal of repairs and reconstruction had to be done on the building. After consideration, the Ministry of Education rejected the application. End of story.

Then, in early 2010, when we were preparing to launch a high school, and teachers had been recruited from the UK, Arabiyya School building collapsed and the Ministry of Education couldn’t find a suitable place to house Arabiyya until a new building was constructed. The Minister requested me over the phone to help out, and I agreed on the spot, no strings attached. We put our project on the back burner (where it still remains!) and housed Arabiyya under an agreement, for 2 years. No rent, nothing, All we asked was that they pay their share of the electricity and water bill, and maintain the areas that they use. The agreement has since been extended another year. Our business has been on hold for three years now.

However, the MES building was in poor shape, and for Arabiyya to start using it, a substantial level of repairs had to be done. The building was leaking from the entire west wall, modifications on the higher floors had to be made to make it safe for primary aged children and so on. The government did not have funds for it, and we proposed that if the Ministry would approve the loan we had requested, we would repair the building for Arabiyya, and WE WOULD PAY BACK THE LOAN from OUR funds. It was the Thauleemee fund committee, and NOT President Nasheed, who authorized the loan. And as far as I know, President Nasheed never issued any instruction regarding the authorizing of this loan.  Frankly, none of us had any other choice at the time. The priority was that Arabiyya School should resume operating as soon as possible.

This is the truth behind the MES building lease agreement and the thauleemee fund loan. I don’t think I, or the government did anything wrong here, I would do it all over again without any qualms.

Those of you who have stood by me all these days, I would sincerely request that you help me to clarify the truth about these issues to those who spread the lie unknowingly. As for those who do it deliberately….well let them carry on.