President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said neither he nor the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has a private agenda, declaring that their political focus is centred on protecting the national interest and putting the Maldives first.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the PNC Senate, President Muizzu said the party’s agenda is nationalistic and aimed at securing what it considers the best interests of the country.
The President acknowledged that political ideologies pursued in the past may have led parties and leaders towards mistakes, stressing the need to move beyond them and focus on strengthening the nation.
Muizzu also raised concern over what he described as a deterioration of the Maldives’ social fabric, saying values that once strengthened pride in Maldivian identity had weakened, particularly the traditional culture of mutual respect.
He argued that infrastructure development alone cannot deliver meaningful progress without strengthening society and developing people alongside physical projects.
“If this trend continues, the construction of grand buildings and the execution of numerous infrastructure projects will yield no real benefit, as the very foundation of our society is compromised. Therefore, my philosophy centres on holistic development. True progress can only be achieved by fostering the development of human thought alongside physical infrastructure,” President Muizzu said.
He called for collective efforts to restore social values, stressing that the responsibility does not rest with the PNC alone but requires participation from citizens across the country.
The President also questioned why the PNC was the only political party supporting the government’s upcoming “National Respect Campaign,” calling for broader participation in efforts aimed at strengthening social cohesion and mutual respect.
Concluding his address, Muizzu urged Maldivians to place the principle of “Nation First” at the centre of their actions and decisions.
