President Mohamed Muizzu has strongly responded to remarks by former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, who claimed that corruption and oppression remain widespread in the country.

Speaking at a PNC event held at Harage on Thursday night, President Dr Muizzu said the public clearly remembers the actions of previous governments and does not need to revisit the past to understand their record. He said there was a time when people were jailed simply for speaking out.

The President acknowledged that past administrations carried out major development projects but argued that corruption and political oppression still existed during those periods. He said many politicians were imprisoned at the time, calling it a clear reflection of the country’s past reality.

President Dr Muizzu also referred to the MMPRC corruption scandal, describing it as the biggest corruption case in the country’s history. He accused previous administrations of failing to properly investigate the case and releasing those responsible despite promises to fight corruption.

The President said his government remains committed to eliminating corruption from the system and will not back down despite criticism and opposition. He added that the current administration is united in its anti-corruption efforts and will not tolerate corrupt practices within the government.