The main opposition party, MDP, has accused the government of committing acts of corruption to secure the drone deal with Turkey to enhance the military capabilities of the Maldives National Defence.
Speaking at a press conference last night, MDP's spokesperson for the upcoming parliamentary elections campaign, MP for Kendhikulhudhoo Constituency Ahmed Isa, said MDP supports the government's initiatives to increase MNDF's military capacity, but the administration must disclose its expenditures to the public.
Isa said that during the launch of drone services in the Maldives, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said that the Maldives purchased two drones and that Turkey gifted one. He said that the government must explain how it bought two drones for MVR 39 million.
He said that the government gathered the funds to buy the drones by stopping several projects it was carrying out nationwide.
The MP said that MDP believes an alarming amount of corruption has been committed during this transaction and called on the Parliament to probe the transaction and determine how much loss the state had to sustain in the deal.
Establishing the nation's first-ever Air Force and deploying drones in that force represents a powerful and important step in preserving the nation's independence and sovereignty. The service will significantly contribute to maintaining the security and safety of the nation's maritime territories and deterring illicit activities.
