President Muizzu Urges Society to Shun Lying, Oppression and Backbiting at 'National Project for Paying Respect' Launch

President Mohamed Muizzu has appealed to the public to distance themselves from bad traits such as lying, oppressing others and backbiting, and to purify society. Speaking at an expensive and colourful ceremony held tonight to inaugurate the "National Project for Paying Respect," Muizzu said: "If we purify our society from the bad traits of one person oppressing another, backbiting, and lying, then, God willing, we will become an unparalleled example of one person paying respect to another." At the ceremony, held during the Unity Run, Muizzu said everyone must resolve to stay far away from the bad acts of backbiting and oppressing others. Citing evidence from the Holy Quran, he reminded that Almighty Allah has commanded not to insult and oppress one another, not to call one another by derogatory names, and not to call each other by names one dislikes. He also noted the extent to which Islam emphasises that people should speak good words. Muizzu reiterated, as he said in the first speech he delivered upon assuming office, that what is wanted for the country is material development brought about physically, and the moral development of building Maldivians' thought and morals. "Even at this moment tonight, I remain with that policy. There is no doubt about the lofty resolve and intention to make that promise, that pledge, a reality. The Maldivian mind must be raised to a cultured horizon upon Islamic principles, and the Maldivian society must be built as a society that upholds human dignity and preserves national heritage," Muizzu said. Highlighting the findings of modern psychological scholars, Muizzu said that respecting one another's status in a society increases closeness and affection among people and brings peace and security to society. He said that respect is not only something done to people, but that respect must also be shown to roads, the environment and natural creatures, and to the responsibilities of one's job, family relationships, and also to the country's peace and interests. In addition, Muizzu noted the beautiful trait of respect that exists in the Maldivian forefathers. He noted that in earlier times Maldivians were so mindful of time that there were individuals who, even while serving the government for 50 years, never once failed to keep the clock. He also highlighted historical customs such as taking food to a neighbour's house upon hearing the sound of a pot being scraped in their kitchen, and trimming and cleaning the branches of trees in one's yard lest they inconvenience the neighbour. Some employees have alleged that, while an event that could not last even an hour was held at great expense, employees of government offices and employees of companies were forced to participate in this event.