Former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said he has not stepped aside from politics, nor can opposition isolate him from politics.

Yameen made the remarks in response to comments by Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal at a recent PNC rally. Minister Faisal said Yameen has lost power and been isolated from politics.

In response, Yameen reiterated that he has not stepped aside from politics. He further said that not even 1,000 people will follow Faisal if he were to create a political party of his own.

"Regardless of what Faisal says, I haven't stepped aside from politics. No one can isolate me either," Yameen said.

He added that he has never said President Dr. Muizzu will fulfill his manifesto, or that he has hope the President will do so. Yameen said that the public will remember the losses they face due to the administration's decisions.

"One of the things in the social contract is the relationship between the people and the government. One part of the same contract is that governments are now coming through the party system. Issuing a manifesto and pledging this is part of the social contract. People vote for these manifestos because they support the political ideology," Yameen said.

Yameen further said that a functional political party system would ensure the manifesto is fulfilled and that the administration works for the betterment of the public.