The Hon. Imran Maharoof

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees. The Hon. President spoke here about the economic situation. Government Members today speak as if they are building a country that was in utter distress. But we must ask from which side they speak. These Members all came to power promising at the Presidential or Parliamentary Elections that they would bring a massive change within 24 hours. Nine months have passed since they came to office, but they speak now like an Opposition.

¶ 02 Those who today accuse the Opposition of disrupting the Government must reflect on what they themselves did when they were in the Opposition—organizing protests and disruptions even against good development activities. They leveraged trade unions for their own advantage and now complain when criticized. Though we are in Opposition, we respect you as a new Government, give time, and conduct our work accordingly. If you were in our place today, you would be in the streets protesting, breaking into houses, and creating many problems. Therefore, please refrain from acting like an Opposition and act as a Government.