Is Gasim Ibrahim the Maldives equal of Thailand’s Thaksin Shinawatra? Gasim, for certain, has the means; looking at the direction of unfolding events and the gossips in tea shops he appears to have a plan in place which he is tirelessly acting on.
Thaksin had his support based and bread at the poor villages in the far corners of the Thailand where governments before him consistently failed to deliver growth. Billionaire Thaksin had no problem in creating hope in the minds of deprived villagers when he came to power. Ration outs and few policy changes made it enough for the people to elect Taksin within difficult to discern scenarios.
Gasim, the case in the Maldives, it is said to have been fairly generous compared to all other Maldivian tourism tycoons before and after him. He is seen as to have built a business from the scratch with bare hands. He in the beginning became famous for helping out very generously to the people who approach for financial assistance to undergo for much needed medical treatments abroad. Particularly, in cases where the other wealthy would not. Partly with commitments given to the World Bank, he then has become the sponsor of 1200 students for higher education in the country and abroad.
Stubbornly ambitious man that Gasim is, he has his nose in every thing that can turn a coin to a dollar and knocks on every political door when ever it seems like open. Gasim sells tuna on wheelbarrows every afternoon on his native island, Maamigili, and owns a 100+ million dollars tourism business stretching from 7 resorts, a seaplane company to a submarine; and you name it, he does it. On the 12th August 2004 uprising when it looked like the government will fall off Gasim was on the front. From there to jail; from the jail he cruised straight on to the seat of the Minister of Finance.
Gasim’s breath of increasing influence on a cluster will look like;
Founding sponsor of Dhivehi Observer Main sponsor of Minivan Radio and Minivan News Vice Chair of Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party Business partner of Islamic Democratic Party’s Chairman - Founding sponsor of Maldivian Democratic Party Funds contributor to Social Liberal Party, President of People’s Special Majlis Minister of Finance Direct Employer of about 3000+ Maldivians Sponsor of 1200 young Maldivians for Higher Education Philanthropist through Villa Foundation.
While you aught become conscious of the power that is leveraged here, I wonder whether Gasim runs this country or the government manages the country through him?
Recalling back the Thailand’s Thaksin story while the underprivileged poured love for his pro-poor policies his instinctive business ego was more than just active. He was selling national interests through legitimate and illegitimate methods filling his pocket with billions. It is reported that Gasim campaigns Maldives should lease islands for tourism for hundred year lease periods. That is in an industry where investment coverage is at 5 years. That for certain will allow Gasim and other present rich to create their own dynasties of wealth and control over the people.
For all the good deeds of Gasim, however, should we reward him; are we going to be able to consciously choose not to go traumatized so much to an extent like that of changing name of the nation, Thailand to Siam ?
22 responses so far ↓
ca // Sep 18, 2007 at 12:01 pm
May be he is more than taksin. Everyone has a philosophy is becoming and then sustaining success. So in a way they are quite alike i too say.
shamsheer // Sep 18, 2007 at 12:18 pm
I don’t understand why so many people try to make Hon.Qasim look like someone with an evil plan with him. Yes he is ambitious , is that a problem? >Do we need non ambitious leaders..??
Isn’t it a prerequisite for World Bank loans that companies who contribute to community get priority. You know banks can’t ask businesses to pay others’ medical bills …
Gasim // Sep 18, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Shahuru, I wish to become the next president of Maldives. This will put me in line for the richest Maldivian owning the most beautiful females. Thank You my dear citizens, you are all heros.
Gasim Ibrahim
Shihab // Sep 18, 2007 at 2:52 pm
It is an interesting perspective to the facts on the table. Yet, I wonder why we have not seen anyone else anywhere near in competition to Gasim.
Could it be that we have not one other person with the quality of Gasim in understanding people’s needs?
Those in government had the opportunity over and over again to win the hearts and minds of the people. Why didn’t they?
I guess time will tell. Stability is dependant on a thriving middle class. If that can be created through a dictatorship, a monarchy, a liberal democracy or some other form of leadership is yet to be seen.
ra:zuwa: // Sep 18, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Thank you for the comment CA. One reason I thought this blog was worth writing is, here is a Maldivian rising on the horizon. In my view, we are supposed to discuss our public personalities.
ra:zuwa: // Sep 18, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Thank you Shamsheer, you have a point. I think people are discussing his intentions. Since, he is benefiting from the publicity it is only fair the people can discuss his intentions bad and good.
The way I see it, It is all part of our newly acquired nature of asking important questions.
ra:zuwa: // Sep 18, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Dear Gasim. By all means please exercise your right as citizen to become the president of the country.
We are interested to know more about yourself and your thinking since you are planning so. In the meantime we are learning to take this responsibility of ours.
You and us the common people are in the same boat!
ra:zuwa: // Sep 18, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Yes, Shihab, You are right. In my view we are more stable, now than before, if I may I will name it ‘actively stable’. A silent, frustrated inactive society is not necessarily stable.
….but half dead.
Assad // Sep 19, 2007 at 4:09 am
Sine we have never have had anyone well off spending so much for us, i think he deserves any political position he requests.
Hameed // Sep 19, 2007 at 8:56 am
Gasim is very authorataian style leader. He sweared at MP Diyana Saeed in a Special Majlis stting. His mic was on and everyone heard it.
Do you think he is the kind of learder we want for the Maldives?
ahmed // Sep 19, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Buruma Gasim could well become best thing which happens us for a long time. I also don’t suport the idea of businesses runing the country.
vathubathaan // Sep 20, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Yeah, Gasim was one fo the founding member of MDP and yes, he was on the front line on 12th August 2004 protest and then to jail for few months. but what happened to him afterwards?. what happened to his vocal critics against the governement?. if he’s such an ambitious guy why can’t he stand with that?. he was using filthy words to president then and what about his drama now?. more like a slave boy of Gayyoom and Gayyoom’s taking the maximum advantage out of the famous Philanthropist.
Mohamed Hilmy // Sep 22, 2007 at 11:48 am
Hi Shahuru.
A well written piece on two business tycoons.
Feel u should note one very important point that Maldives may want to consider for its political leaders.
Thai law requires public office holders to hold shares in companies amounting to less than 5 per cent of the total share capital, and bars them from having any interest in companies that have gained concessions or monopoly businesses from the government. At the same time, all assets held by the public office holders must be filed to the National Counter Corruption Commission for public knowledge.
This is one area where Thaksin fell into problems in addition to the human rights violations.
ra:zuwa: // Sep 23, 2007 at 5:04 am
Dear Assad. I too think the kind of social responsibility that Gasim appears to take needs to be encouraged and those who do not do that needs to be discouraged.
I think for Gasim to be given any post that he asks the people, we are having all the chances to asses him for his ability, to lead, run and reform Special Majlis and Ministry of Finance. He is at the dispersal of public for us all to decide.
I think its time we start thinking about his values and performance.
ra:zuwa: // Sep 23, 2007 at 5:12 am
Yes, Hameed. That is a good question to ask.
Authoritarianism is what we seek to eradicate and participative management is what we crave for. It is important that we properly for sure understand leadership styles of our leaders, however, we can cover for that by a proper constitutional and legal control.
ra:zuwa: // Sep 23, 2007 at 5:16 am
Thank you Ahmed for the comment.
Gasim is as we know the only business man who takes a good share of social responsibility.
He for sure is the best thing which happened for us in business or most kind of all of them.
ra:zuwa: // Sep 23, 2007 at 5:21 am
Thank you Vathubathan. Yes, there are two dimensions to his political existence. So are the arguments relating to how he did and does politics.
He could also be thinking he could achieve his ambitions much more effectively by joining government than not.
ra:zuwa: // Sep 23, 2007 at 5:25 am
Thank you Hilmy.
Yes, I also think we should consider keeping a proper reocord of wealth of public office holders and it must be public knowledge.
Gasim // Sep 28, 2007 at 6:12 am
Hi everyone, you are all my heros from now on. Tks Hilmy, Shihab, Shahuru, Assad, Shamsheer, Hameed and Ahmed. Others please excuse me I couldnt translate your names to Arabic so I have sent it to Supreme Council to see if they would lend you a temporary name. May god bless you. Hope to see you when I become the President next year.
Gasim Ibrahim
ra:zuwa: // Oct 6, 2007 at 6:32 am
Thank you Gasim Ibrahim.
moyameehaa // Oct 27, 2007 at 2:29 am
I think Qasim should remain with us as a people’s philanthropist-businessman.see what has happened to india, when all the rich and famous people become politicians.we get all dumb people in the parliament. Qasim should try his best not to be taken advantage of (he can only do that when there are leaders who wouldn’t take advantage.now there is no choice for him in this).He could server his country better in this way… contributing to our economic development and welfare.
ra:zuwa: // Oct 28, 2007 at 11:14 am
I think, like you said, he could serve people better if he stayed a philanthropist
Thank you for the comment!
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