Watching the candidate debates shown on Television Maldives astonishes me over and over again, every day. I do respect and honor their courage coming in front of cameras and trying to express their ideas and views. However, some of them, just some, I am certain, even make the people of their constituency ashamed! There are some candidates, who simply ‘arr… umm… hmm… aaa…’ half the time they are given to answer a particular question. In what I see, I guess such candidates are the ones, though their minds filled with thoughts and ideas, who cannot express those ideas. The Majlis that is going to be elected within just a few more days will consist of over seventy candidates. When given a time of say 10 to 15 minutes to express and share the needs and wants of the people on different issues and topics, I wonder how these candidates could hear the Majlis what the people want and need!
Then, there are those candidates who take all the sweet time given, to blame others, show the faults of others and to shout at others. Independent of the questions asked, they simply blabber whatever comes to their mind. I classify these candidates as those who cannot listen! If they listen well enough, they would answer the questions asked and not simply shout and hoot whatever comes to their mind. The debate program gives an opportunity to let the people know what the candidates would do for them. But those candidates who misuse this opportunity, and those who could not listen well to the questions asked, I wonder how they could listen to the voice of the people and express those views at the Majlis!
In addition to the above mentioned there are several other types of candidates who are competing for a seat at the Peoples Majlis. There is this group who simply wants to go against the current government, there is this group backed by tycoons, there is this group who is simply insane for the high pay, there is this group who is competing to divide votes of certain constituencies. Such and such reasons are the reasons why we, the citizens, should come forward and cast our votes.
Some of us might feel that this election is nothing important. Others might feel why we need to vote! And others might think there would be no difference. But be enlightened! Each vote counts, and this election, perhaps would be the most important election that we would face for quite a time! By casting our votes we are not only electing some people for OUR MAJLIS, but also we are shaping our future. Unlike the past 30 year dictatorship, in this new era of democracy, the Majlis will play an important role in deciding what is good and what is bad for this country. And by casting our votes to the right candidate, we are ensuring that the future will be decided as the people of this country want, and not the way a particular person or group of people want.
What I urge and what I request to the people of this beloved nation is, decide to vote, decide our future. And choose the right candidate. And to choose the right candidate, we should know who is contesting, what their promises are, who is behind them and what their agenda is. Choosing the right candidate in this election is the only way for us to have a better and democratic future.
-thadu-
i was thinking the same thing the other day. I mean, they have no idea what they are up to. They are not capable of solving problems, lead people. I think politicians should be the best of social scientists, best economists, best of technicians, engineers etc.
These power and wealth hunger politicians trying to have a debate and going urr mmm on the national tv is just hilarious. And the best part is in between each and every single word, they tend to include “Allah willing”. this somehow is supposed to show their pious side and good side.. lol
Once simon has written a very interest piece abt it:
http://www.randomreflexions.com/2008/09/22/politics-allah-willing/
I see these “candidates” as something akin to “vultures” now circling to feed on the “Maldives carcass” leftover by Maumoon. Sick.
dont vote any DRP candidates
if they are elected it will be our doom
and i thot u knew anni very well. i guess u have a different answer now. typical maldivians eh?
@Anonymous: alternative? MDP! very convinient of you, isn’t it?