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Mohamed Nasheed (Anni)

Metamorphosis of Mr. Zahir

by Mohamed Nasheed (Anni), 21st July 2004

In the eyes of many Mr. Ahamed Zahir is not suitable to be the Speaker of the Special Majlis. Not because he can or can not read the Quran nor because he did or did not sit for GCE O/L exams five times, but more because he has been rejected by his own people. Mr. Zahir, when he lost his seat for Gaaf Dhaal in 1999, was one of the longest serving MP’s in the Majlis. Zahir was unable to win the safest of seats for him, many will agree, because of his gradual fall from grace of the people after his metamorphosis from Rayyath Zahir (People’s Zahir) to Bandaara Zahir (State Zahir).

Mr. Ahamed Zahir hails from the island of Waadhoo in Huvadhoo Atoll. He is born to feudal parenthood and lived a comfortable early childhood. He came to Male at a tender age residing in the house holds of ruling Male Clans. His stay in Male was short. Like many affluent boys of his generation he left to India and then to Ceylon to continue his secondary education. Up on the Kandyan Hills, Mr. Zahir was a happy teenager, taking a close interest in politics and finally ending up being a card carrying member of the communist party.

Mr. Zahir’s beliefs when he returned to Male in the early 70’s were very much moulded by his exposure to politics on the Kandyan Hills and the suburbs of Colombo. He was socially aware, politically correct and a staunch supporter of people’s rights. Beyond all this he was gifted with a sweet flare for words. Mr. Zahir’s early writings started appearing in the then popular weekly, Hafthaa(Week). During this period Zahir quickly took the name of Hafthaa Zahir.

During the late 70’s Mr. Zahir fought hard and fearlessly against the then dictatorial regime of Mr. Ibrahim Nasir. After Mr. Nasir left, Zahir with his fiends, including the present spokesman of the MDP, Mr. Latheef, former MP Husney Mohamed, Present MP for Thaa Hassan Afeef, present Director in Atolls Ministry Mr. Mohamed Farooq and many young activists started publishing their daily paper Duvas and the weekly English magazine Out Look. These publications were very short lived as Gayoom started consolidating his powers. When the going got tough during the initial days of Gayoom regime, Zahir resigned his position from the independent press. Soon after Zahir’s resignation the press was clamped down and Zahir received the first of many promotions. He was made a cabinet minster in 1990, coincidently after the de-registration of the independent magazine Sangu.

Zahir’s metamorphosis dates back from then on. He has been compromising his views which culminated in the loss of his ancestral seat of South Huvadhoo Atoll. After he was rejected by his people, he was instantly made an MP by the President as one of his appointees.

In the eyes of many, if Mr. Zahir were to come back to completive politics, he really needs to go through much soul seeking and reverse metamorphosis. This Mr. Zahir is not the time for you to seek election as the Speaker of Special Majlis. This, Mr. Zahir, you understand as much as we do, is the moment for Mr. Gasim, your business partner.