Friday, September 12, 2008

The truth about Gasim’s philanthropy



With 700 students studying on Villa Scholarships and thousands of patients getting treated abroad, few would even think of denying Gasim Ibrahim's philanthropic credentials. His detractors have therefore concentrated on questioning his motives and casting aspersions on how he acquired wealth, slyly insinuating that he has some undisclosed obligations to spend on welfare.


One such insinuation revolves around the loans granted by International Finance Corporation (IFC) to Villa Shipping and Trade. A popular story alleges that Villa Foundation (which grants Villa Scholarships) is a precondition set by IFC for the loans. Let us examine this allegation in detail. IFC says its work is to provide investments and advisory services to build the private sector in developing countries. It operates commercially and grants loans at market-based interest rates up to a maximum of 25% of the project cost. Eligibility criteria for IFC loans do not include establishing national scholarship schemes. The detailed eligibility criteria merely require that a project must:

  • Be located in a developing country that is a member of IFC;
  • Be in the private sector;
  • Be technically sound;
  • Have good prospects of being profitable;
  • Benefit the local economy; and
  • Be environmentally and socially sound, satisfying IFC environmental and social standards as well as those of the host country.

Gasim is not the only Maldivian borrower from IFC, nor is he the biggest. According to information currently disclosed by IFC, it has granted a total of $ 74.5 million to the Maldives private sector. This includes $ 25 million to Universal Enterprises, $ 21 million to Villa, $ 20 million to Wataniya Maldives and $ 8.5 million to Taj Hotels. (see graph above.) These are all type A loans subject to the same terms and conditions.

A related insinuation is that the loan to Gasim was secured by a Government guarantee. Funnily enough, IFC regulations prohibit the organization from accepting government guarantees. IFC relies instead on the client company's proposal and track record. IFC "fully shares risks with its partners."

According to another widely circulated story, Gasim did not become rich but was made rich by Ilyas Ibrahim. The story says Gasim became rich through a petroleum monopoly served to him on a platter by STO, when Ilyas was running the company.
Gasim says, far from favoring him, the government has constantly put hurdles in his path. In an interview to TVM's Siyaasath program, Gasim revealed how the government willfully blocked him from bagging a dealership from Sri Lanka Petroleum Company. Gasim says STO also tried, though unsuccessfully, to block his dealership with Shell for importing Rotella and other petroleum products.

To put Gasim's revelations in perspective, one must recall that the backdrop for the alleged events was the 1980s, a period during which the government followed a policy of foreign exchange controls and restrictive import quotas. STO was involved in many dealership feuds with private companies during the period, one of the most celebrated of which was the one with DIK over the dealership of Benson and Hedges.

We may never know Gasim's true motives, if any, for his philanthropy. But one thing is certain. He was already the biggest individual spender on health and education long before there was any practical hope of standing for the presidency.

64 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for clarifying this bit on loans.

Think Again said...

Its a pitty that the pblic this nation has no sufficient knowledge on international investors and the policies of such organization like IMF or World Bank.

The propgenda stories about Villa and Gasim's contribution to the social welfare of this country has simple been manupulated in the hearts and minds of these people who do not have the knowledge to evaluate the truth.

What ever the situation may be or Mr. Gasim's Ibrahim's motives in running for the presidency, the good things he has done and contenues to do are to be accepted without any prejudgement. One should accept he has the calibar and commitment to run and manage the economic and social responsibility of ths nation.

Voting and electing him as president is a different matter.

Anonymous said...

I think what is happening here in the Maldives is that there are people who cannot accept the truth and they try to distort it to fool themselves only.

Anonymous said...

edhumea nethi vedhumea nukuraane kan aharumen ves dhanan.

Anonymous said...

kann nulibi thibey kukulhuthakeah thibey koh thakah kaashi fochech vataali maa vaane goiy addu atholhuga vamun edhaney

Anonymous said...

How could you say he has the calibar and commitment to run and manage the economic and social responsibility of ths nation, if he runs with a bottle of Mineral Water again......

Think Again said...

Well... I dont know the angle you evaluate him..!

But...What we see today is a man who pioneered in his buisiness and made Villa a buisiness tycoon. For sure one cannot achieve what he has achieved unless he has quality!

Secondly... he is here infront of you and me and he says he can and he will!

Anonymous said...

your view is not at all correct.
what your saying is Qasim became rich by himself? It cant be happen for one guy in this small country... or do u?

Anonymous said...

to refute the allegations against gasim you are just saying "gasim said so and gasim said so" we dont believe his words. we all know he ran into problems when yameen was trade minister. then he clashed with STO. prove to us if he ran into problems with STO when ilyas was trade minister in 80s. the truth is ilyas made him rich. gasim is endherimaage product. and dr abdullah waheed could be a by-product.

Anonymous said...

Whatever said, Qasim is not suitable to become the President of Maldives because he was not able to manage the economy, while he was the Minister of Finance and Treasury. Who knows the amount of undue advantage he had gained at the time when he was the minister.

This guy promising Adduans that he will be able to install a sanitary system for the atoll during the first one and half years of his presidency, if he is chosen as the president cannot be accepted as I am quite sure that he is not aware of the costs involved in such a mega project. Qasim has to know of the amount of money that would be required for the project.

Qasim is a dictator. He will not do anything other than that which involves a personal gain for him even if it comes to selling "kihli" on the side of the road.

Anonymous said...

Dr.Abudlla Whaeed and Gasim are very different persons practicing different disciplines however both these persons are remnants of past corrupted governance of Gayoom that is now cracking and unfolding.Abdulla Whaeed being a phd holder, I advice its time Abdullaa Whaeed register a political party or approach Gasim Ibrahim to run for is running mate. Since all phd holders and engineers have nothing to do in Maldives on intellectual basis. in fact they are not interested in building the nation. It seems after evry phd, the option available is politics which is putting the nation into a dangerous path of backwardness. Look, we have educated people, we don’t have innovators, researchers and to the least no university to build a civilization. All we have jabbering politicians hungry for power. They could be Sappe,Abudlla Waheed, Dr. Whaeed, Dr.Hussain, Dr. Munwaaru and so many people like this.

Anonymous said...

well sanitation is very important for anyone lving in maldives.at any cost people of maldives must have access to safe drinking water. gasim is right on that. while hulhumale has plundered millions of peoples money just only for Male people ofcourse which is a discrimination too. so what is the big deal if addu people or anyother people living in an atoll are allowed to drink healthy water? you stupid jackass.

Anonymous said...

i hope this is true..n fair.. if so its a gryt clearification..

Anonymous said...

We hear, we are in debt to international world for another generation. is this true or false ! if this is true maumoon should not be voted in for another term. he has to be made responsible. he cannot simply say my finance minister or my planning minister failed.

Anonymous said...

thanks Abdulla Waheed. This shows that Qasim will gain more votes in the upcoming election. It is me who believe that Qayoom is always a person who has tried to keep everyone in his control. And know one is saved from his iron hand. Last 30 years of his presidency, everyone is labelled as corrupted or dishonest to the country. Luckily few of them like Dr. Hassan and few had escaped from his control. I know Dr. Waheed that you and your friends spend time at Vilingili Beach to discuss on politics. Even with the piece of information about Mr. Qasim shows that you and your friends (Like Dr. Hassan Hameed, Solih and others who join you every weekend to have round table conference in the beach in Vilingili) are not very happy with this IRON MAN.

Anonymous said...

what r u talking about,licking your lips for maumun is pacaas.we will let him down, no matter who comes next but most probably it would be the father of poorers,Mr.Qasim Ibrahim.No matter whos product is he,untill he has experience and trust worthiness. Waheed expose what u have about ur dear godfather maumun who is an old man to whom we will bide respect alwayz.But this time tuirning another chapter is the biggest dream of maldivians.

Anonymous said...

Let's see the real background of Abdulla Waheed. He could be a victim of Gasim's wealth.

Anonymous said...

I dont know how true your chart is. All i am aware is Universal does a lot to Educate & also provide medical assistance to a lot of civilians. Although they do not advertise what they do like Gassim does. From day one Gassim had the greed of becoming the president of Maldives, hence he advertises all his grants offered to civilians. Gassim has forgotton that this place is just a temporary test ground and we all are under going a test, the real worl is yet to come.

Anonymous said...

thanx a lot for this clarification about Gasim.sadly this information is only available to people who ar able to acess to internet.i think this type of topics must be dis cussed on the radio shows from the Gasims camp.then only the the average Maldivian cud undestand the truth about hounerable Gasim.

Anonymous said...

you can never say that He was biggest individual spender on health and education long before there was any practical hope of standing for the presidency!

do you read his mind? he might have planned since the very beginnings.

Check out his famous story of taking coral from hulhule reef while it was banned...

call Ali on 3316310 for authenticity of this story

Anonymous said...

truth about Gasim buruma is hiding .we all know him he is the helper of Maumoon

Anonymous said...

Dear readers: accept the truth and try to find the true intention of Mr. Gasim. In political forums Mr. Gasim is revealing why he spent huge amount on the welfare of Maldivians. He needs sympathy vote. Beacause he has given medical to the poor and education... DO NOT GIVE SYMPATHY VOTE.

Anonymous said...

I disagree, some one here said Universal also help to educate people. I made an appointment with Mohamed Umar Manik just after my AL like many others I wanted go for higher education during 1995. Since it was not easy to get scholarships, a colleague of mine and myself we got placement to do medicine in Russia, which we ask Universal to get us a simple loan of less than 2000 dollars. What MUM has said us was , we are not a charity organization and we dont have money to loan like that.

Thanks to Dr.Waheed to bring these facts. The money Universal has is the hard working people of Maldives. My father has worked with them over 25 years his salary was just 1000 rufiyaa by the time he rtired and went home. He worked over 15 years just less than 300 rufiya per month.

What ever people say Gasim has the prove he has helped almost evry family of Maldives, just last year my uncle got treated for bypass surgery in India with generous support from Gasim, how can we forgot those help, when we go to ballot box.

Anonymous said...

Qasim's ability as a businessman is commendable, but when it comes to take charge of a country its different... Qasim managed an entity within a nation and he had less to do with international community... and let's not touch the good governance... almost all businessmen in Maldives will be blacklisted when it comes to good governance. What have they done as corporate citizens of our nation... Except Qasim's effort we see nothing else. And how do we know that Qasim have acted in the best interest of the nation when there was no way to verify the degree of economic exploitation. Anyone can rule a country, look at Evo Morales of Bolivia; just passed high school, there is no doubt about it. Then why not Qasim or even Fulhivikkaa for that matter.... Right to vote is the acceptance to tolerate.....

Anonymous said...

Waheed, nobody is denying his philantropic history. in my opinion, presidency is not something for giant businessmen. they should remain as businessmen and do business. like as a doctor shouldn't be involved in hosting a TV programme about movies. he should devote time on healthcare. there will be a huge conflict of interest if gasim comes to power. already he's ruling all possible business in Maldives. what about us? we also want to do business? what chance do we have? seriously, i am not going for him not that i am against him. he's a great man.

Anonymous said...

another thing to fear about Gasim is the strong links he has with Endherimaage. imagine, Abbas Ibrahim was writing letters to him. and what a fool, he signed it without reading it! seriously, do we want someone like him?

Anonymous said...

You are trying to bring Universal Group into the spotlight. This is a way to take the heat off Qasim.

Good strategy.

Anonymous said...

Waheed, Good article! hard to find such objective pieces these days with all media related to one party or another. But to be fair, you did appear to favour Gasim's view of how his business was hindered by Gayoom. Other than that, brilliant!

Your point is well taken - he is the most well-known philanthropist amongst these top few rich businessmen who control the riches of Maldives. He may be targeted by supporters of other parties, he should accept that in politics, but no one should deny him the credit for being amongst the most generous people in Maldives. His capacity for being a president is a different matter. I don't support him either, but I believe in rationality and respect, like you.

Also don't be disheartened by comments here. Thats how it goes in Maldives. Showing hatred is our norm these days - there is no middle ground, just the extremes: either you hate him or support him, there no such thing as respect. Hopefully, it will all settle down once we get over the euphoria of democracy. Keep it up!

Anonymous said...

Running a country is like running a company. The only difference is a number of the vast staff and clients. The company will focus on the satisfactory of the customers while the government focuses to satisfy the public.
So I'll go with those who say Mr. Gasim is capable for running the country towards success as he did for a company which might be the number one private company in the country, which has a good reputation in the region too.

from Cairo

Anonymous said...

Seriously please don't go in for these crap Sappe is doing by getting the help of another ass licking person like Doc Waheed. Don't know when he appeared in this political area? suddenly he is writing so many things about this Gasim bugger who got everything through Endheri Clan and now saying that they did not help. Also he is saying that when he got IMF loan there was no clause to help the people of Maldives, to educate them in different fields,it was there and he is lying..... he is a big liar and a COWARD by the way he will sign what ever is given to him if there is a threat to his Dynasty..... so BEWARE of his cunning way of gaining the love of the innocent ppl who is not aware of these things.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, with the money of the World Bank I can be also philanthropist, it was part of the deal with World Bank.

Anonymous said...

Gasim did not become rich but was made rich by Ilyas Ibrahim. The story says Gasim became rich through a petroleum monopoly served to him on a platter by STO, when Ilyas was running the company.
this is how he became rich.

Anonymous said...

Do we want someone who is trying to monopolize all the business sectors in the country as a president? Tourism, fisheries, travel and transport ec, petrol if there is any, and even education and health? The common ppl will not have any opportunity to do business if that happens. How can we allow that? Gasim may be doing his share in helping out the public, but that is no reason to vote for him. Besides he is required by the contract with IMF and a citizen to do that anyway. What he is campaigning for is sympathy vote. We want a president who has the ability and the education to lead this country. Not a sympathetic public. Besides there will be FOUR FIRST LADIES? AND A NEW ONE EACH MONTH if this guy becomes president. How laughable is that? Local girls will not be safe from the president then. It will be histroy repeatng itself again, the rannamaari story.

Anonymous said...

come november and we will see if he has the calibar and commitment to run our beloved nation.trust me he can't.

Anonymous said...

Dok Waheed. (athiregey alibeyaage).u have provided a bullcrap bar graph figure without a credible reference. pls dont try to delude innocent people.

Abdullah Waheed's Blog said...

Site Editor's note:
Normally I don't respond to criticism. But i think the one calling for "credible reference" is a fair comment. Actually all figures in the bar graph are from published World Bank/IFC documents. Here is the URL for the most important refrence, which gives most of the figures. (http://siteresources.worldbank.org/SOUTHASIAEXT/Resources/223546-1201035351575/4588824-1201035376427/MaldivesCAS2008.pdf) A search of the site will reveal the other relevant items.

Anonymous said...

i believe Gasim is a looser..He was unable to answer the questions by the teachers n he turned his back on their plea..that was his final blow as a finance minister..what a rude man..we don't believe he is worth any thing else..or he could do much..till the last day in DRP, according to gasim the dictator maumoon was "the god". what ever maumoon says was his command..but the day he turned his back his story became something else..fluctuating personality huh!!..All those days he was damn lieing to us..He dont even hesitate once to lie to his citizens..just like maumoon..GOD save us from Pharos like that..

Anonymous said...

If not Amni, If not Gaasim, who can lead this country, some fools claim that Gasim cannot lead a country. I wonder who can.. For sure if Maumoon can lead this country for 3o years with his kitchen cabinet having his own style of development, anyone can do what he did to this country, what i see around is corruption to the maximum, drugs on its best form, all kind of crimes are more and more... I don's see that even he fits for the Job, we should vote Anni or Gasim for a change.
And we can do that.. go for Gasim. At least a change to see whether they can do it.. I guess instead of giving a chance to Maumoon for another 5 year term we could give the chance to someone to see the difference. Unless we give a chance we never know.. maumoon's 30 years he always claim one.. further development, further improvement, in his words, ithurah tharragee kuran, ithur kuri aruvan.. I would say enough of your further actions.. maybe he meant to say further to improve his wealth and more resorts to his cronies.

Anonymous said...

It is now clear that Maumoon has decided that he will hold onto power unto the grave,he has been
slapping democracy in the face for decades, So that the Maldivians have to wake-up and elect a President how will not suck up our blood to enrich his In laws and his family.VOTE FOR A CHANGE
VOTE FOR GASIM IBRAHIM

Anonymous said...

the truth is he is a good person!
80% of the voting population likes him!
he is the mastermind to finish renewed Asaasee!
he have capacity to lead this nation! every president is not a PHD! it is not a must to be a PHD to run for presidency!

eg:
USA obama is not a Dr.
USA maccain is not a Dr.

so why not Gasim to this tiny nation! we want someone who can carry us to better tomorrow!
Gasim is the best!
We dont want Dr. waheed (gaumee ithihaadh) waheedh is like a cat! sleep day time & wake night for the food!
Waheed came to Maldives to MDP election, when he lost he left Maldives & there was nothing about him! Now again he is here in the Maldives! waheed thinks we are crazy! we will never vote such idot! Gasim is the best!

Anonymous said...

I don't know how true your chart is. All i am aware is Universal Group does a lot to for the common people, But they do not advertise these facts.

Anonymous said...

If Maumoon without any experience just a simple Arabic degree can run a country for over 30 years there is no reason a well experienced businessman cannot run Maldives. My vote is with Gasim

Anonymous said...

ok, i hv been reading what waheed has been writing for himself and Sappe (atleast this guy shud give us credible reasons why he is supporting a man like Gasim) has been promoting.
Firstly Waheed himself is a complete failure ...last i saw him heading the narcotics control board and imagine what kind of controlling they have been applying.....

Next is Gasim's philanthropy and how he is using this pretext to win the election. Let me give all of the readers who are so keen in promoting him a very hard fact. As per the docs available he has an estimate of near USD 400 million in his assets and this means he has to pay a sum of USD 10 million (approx RF 130 million) for his Zakat every year....and as i see it he is what he has been spending is this RF 130 million or less.... Imagine a man who spends his Zakat money and than uses this as pretext to support his presidential campaign. I don't know what kind of philanthropy is this.....

Anonymous said...

any vote Gasim gets is out of blindness... like the votes that Maumoon is winning. Any one who has any brain would not vote for Gasim. Fortunately this is not the 90's where most of the voters were without brains.... a perfect example is a person like Shihab

Anonymous said...

People acting as democratic and growing self made politician in the streets of Male should pause a miniute and think about wether they really knew about more then commomn sense. Public policy, Political economy,Social responsiblity,Philentherpitic responsiblity etc are diciplines unless you will never know without leraning the concepts. As Mr Nasheed (Kuti) described in his personal blogger, there is reason why a 3 to 4 year university degress is set for each of this type of dicipline.

What Mr Gasim Ibrahim is doing part of corporate social responsibility which is not a mendatory in in any country in the universe.

So if we know what he is doing and if we understand the theories behid it, know one should have doubt about his behavior as right candidate.

Our problem is the provision of the current goverments ethical ,social & economi responsibility and delivery to the society.

Gasim Ibrahim is acting at the best intrest in that manner that sicce many years ago.

Human physocolgy or Maslows hirachy of needs or even 3 needs theroy says one one condition satisfy all humans demand for the next. Its not problem even if the richest man demands and even if he fits the the said 3 needs therory. Thtas nature.

Think before voting

Anonymous said...

Good Business Strategy - Give and Take. People open your eyes, running a business and ruling a nation is totally different thing.

Anonymous said...

sappe qasim ah vikunee dho.

Anonymous said...

An enlighting article thought much of it was wasted through bias. Gasim maybe a good philantrophist but the question is "Is he a good candidate for the presidency". A nations presidency is the face of the nation in that regard if philantorphy is the best criteria then I assume there are people with less who have always given alms, to neighbours,on fridays, on eids, and everyother day in the course of daily interactions who if taken in ratio to gasims wealth would be termed better philantrophist. I say why not elect such a person then. Maumoon in his first term was also or at least pretended to be a do-gooder, but, it was people like Mr. Waheed who, singing peans of good deeds who made him into a demi- god like the stalinist leaders of the now defunct soviet union. I say for this and this along is something people should be extremely thoughful about when selecting the presidency.

Anonymous said...

I am surprised to see many comments submitted do not even address the Leadership qualities and skills required. They keep on talking about formal education, height, weight and the island where he came from, or which house he lived in!!!!and so on.
Here's the major difference between a leader and a manager. This is defined by Harvard Business School of Publishing. Take a close look and tell me whether Qasim can or cannot handle the job. Maumoon tried to micro manage the executive office because he was not a leader. Qasim will not try to manage each and every ministry or government office, rather his job will be to lead the country.
Management Versus Leadership

Managing:
Planning and budgeting
Leading:
Setting a direction (Qasim has proved this)
Managing:
Organizing and staffing
Leading:
Aligning people ( Qasim has done this in Villa and also in the Special Majlis)
Managing:
Controlling and problem solving
Leading;
Motivating and inspiring ( he is doing again across the country)

It would be naive to say Qasim lacks leadership skills. You guys are once again searching for a manager.

Anonymous said...

I was running a subsidized company belonging to Seven Eleven Ismail Saadiq, when we signed an agreement with CITI Bank in Thailand for $20 million dollar loan for Villa Shipping. Yaameen forced Saadiq to cancel the loan and asked STO MD Maniku to cancel the agreement to lease a 5 storey STO Building. Yaameen told this was instructed by Thuthonbe (Golabo). To be honest Gasim had his share of priviledges, but he was against Yaameen who resigned in protest after Gasim was given he Finance portfolio.

Anonymous said...

I dont know more about ibra, but i know he is the person who has dictator leadership..!

Anonymous said...

for those who argue that running a country is like running a business. Well, in a business you can always fire someone. Can you as well fire a citizen?

Anonymous said...

Gasim's philanthropy is his personal business. Good for him, and others who got a share in his business, but sorry we cannot allow him to be the President of Maldives.

Anonymous said...

You are right 11:22pm,
Running a country is never or will never be like running a company.

I am surprised at the 4:01am comment when he said that running a country is like running a country, then i looked at who had posted it and found out that this stupid comment came from Egypt,like our 'adhuge Zaeem' or 'abadhuge Zaeem'

Anonymous said...

I know a cancer patient who recieved over a million rufiya as aid from gasim. The boy is only five years old and does not have a lot of voting relatives . Question is why would anyone spend that kind of money on a kid hoping that he might vote one day when people like most of the critics of this article sell their vote for only a few thousands if not for hundreds? So gasim should refrain from helping people if he wants to be president..little choice hmmm. So much for the all knowing politicians who are so common nowadays. I am sure that they are so smart that they would find a way to help the cancer patient if gasim had to stop the aid under their pressure. Lucky for the boy gasim is not so weak ..

Anonymous said...

Can Gasim or his associates (most probably be his kids) answer me to this question: Why do you (Gasim) need to be named as the 'president' in developing this nation? you certainly claim to have enough wealth and from a retrospective view some people claim you as a philanthropist. Certainly the law does not deprive you from helping citizens and the development of the nation. So what i dont understant is with all that wealth, you dont need to be named as the president play a major part in the development of MAldives. Go ahead build a new airport, develop industries on L. atoll, on any given island, or fix the problem of island erosion in Fuamulak, no one objects to that. You dont need to talk about it, start the work ! You certainly is a better businessman than the rest of the gang ! then again this is only my view.

I hope the readers understand what i am talking about? oh, another thing not just Gasim will be a change, what we want is a better change , so VOTE FOR GOOD OF THE NATION, NOT JUST A CHANGE. Bye the way i have nothing agaisnt Gasim.

Anonymous said...

i know a person who studied under gasim's sponsorship and finished a degree and working in Maldives. this person is paying back the money back to gasim even now, because gasim informed to payback the total amount. i believe this sponsorship was given privately and not through Villa.

i studied under sponsorship of MU Manik to work in Universal but when i finished i wanted to work somewhere else and offered to payback in installments. i was told as that as long as i work in Maldives i dont have to pay back anything.

Gasim wants fame from the so called "Gasim’s philanthropy".

VOTE ANNI

Anonymous said...

U cant just fool poeple, You and me know who Gasim is. Who made him rich and how the money came.
Dont be prostitute. Just gasim use your mind and soul for a few bucks.

You think gasim started his business from savings from Lunch money from his school years? He never attended proper schooling.

Anonymous said...

recently my relative had been sent abroad for kidney transplant wit the aid of Qasim.

And another story is that, he gave money to one of my friend to start his own business n for your kind information of all, Qasim does not hav any share in that business.

Anonymous said...

Gasim is not capable of running a country. He does not have clear goals. The fact that lot of MPs joined him was because of money. I am saying this because when they joined him, Gasim did not even have a manifesto. He is not capable. This was proved by Gasim himself on Siyaasath by TVM

Anonymous said...

http://www.drp.org.mv/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1136664293&archive=1136664435&start

Let's go For Vote said...

We can change only if we realy need change. I wish all maldiviens Living in Bangalore will get together and go to the polling station together. nix

Anonymous said...

I have a great deal of admiration and respect to his selfless personality.Believe or not he is the only candiate who is capable to understand the pathos of everyday life of a maldivian and his services to the nation is exemplary. No any single person in the long history of the Maldives served this country as much as he did for the welfare of the people of the maldive.If you see some opposition websites , against qasim ,beware that they are simply failures who went out from villa and their whole education have been funded by villa like nothing.
These people have been careless leaders whole their life and have taken undue advantages while they worked in villa .Qasims humanitarian endeavours have been in action for decades and he has been helped by the government and other commercial organizations in maldives and abroad.

For those critics , who aspires to become politicians i would say , you have been behind the screen most of the time when the people needed you , if not victimized by cronysm.You cannot critisize someones love to his country and people.Qasim could have bagged his millions and deposited all his wealth in other countries and could even take a holiday..but he chose to help the people of this country.it is still good because he is not educated , if he was we couldnt have even seen him ,or he could have been unreachable!

Anonymous said...

For my information Mr. Qasim Ibrahim was the first person who sign's to form a political party which is MDP. If he is linked with Maumoon, I dont think he would have done that. But I think he have done more to MDP, by spending a lot on its emergence. In his period of Finance minister was the best economical performance that Maldives have ever come across. Raising the budget from 5 Billion to 10 Billion. See the Finance Ministry Stat. No other finance minister in this nation with 300 thousand has did this so far. And more over Qasim looks to be the best candidate among what we have now to vote.