All UNPers should support Constitutional Amendments - Abdul Cader UNP MP

By Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Abdul Rahim Mohideen Abdul Cader hailing from Nawalapitiya in the central hills engaged in politics from his young age with the United National Party. He became a Minister in the Central Provincial Council in 1988 after the first Provincial Council elections. Subsequently he became a Member of Parliament representing Kandy district in the Central Province. Since then he continuously represented the Parliament for 22 years from the UNP. He was the Cabinet Minister of Cooperatives under UNF government.

At the last general election he obtained highest preferential votes from the UNP list but distanced from the UNP after disagreements with the UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and decided to vote with the Government at the budget vote at the parliament extending his support to the Government.

Speaking to the Sunday Observer , MP Abdul Cader says that he is going to declare his stance about his political career next week. He hails the Constitutional amendments brought by the Government adding that all UNP MPs should also vote for the Constitutional amendments.

He also says that he was pleased by the recent visit by the President to his place when they were breaking the fast at the mosque saying that he was always a grateful and disciplined person.

Following are excerpts of the interview the Sunday Observer had with MP Abdul Cader.

Q: How long have you been in politics with the United National Party?

A: I have been engaged in politics for 50 years with the United National Party. I took to politics at the age of 18 and followed many local and national level politicians. I followed in the footsteps of Chandra Karunaratne and also associated many UNP leaders such as Dudley Senanayake, Sir John Kothalawala, J. R. Jayewardene and D. B. Wijethunga. It was late President J. R. Jayewardene who made me the Provincial Minister of the Central Provincial Council after the first Provincial Council election held in 1988. I was in charge of eight subjects as the Provincial Minister. Then in 1989 I entered parliament contesting from the Kandy district and since then I am continuously a MP for 22 years.

Q: You obtained the highest number of preferential votes under UNP list at the past general election. Now you are voting with the Government at the Parliament. What made you take this decision. What is the dispute you are having with the UNP?

A: I obtained highest number of preferential votes in the Kandy district although I am a Muslim. But when nominations were prepared I told UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe not to field three Muslim candidates from the Kandy district as it would create problems there. Although I am Muslim I closely worked with Sinhala Buddhist people there in Kandy. When we field three Muslim candidates under UNP they will get upset. Even for the Muslim they can vote for a Sinhalese candidate if only two Muslim candidates were fielded at the election. But, Ranil Wickremesinghe ignored this fact and Rauff Hakeem was also included in the Kandy district UNP list. And also I told Ranil Wickremesinghe that UNP should contest as a single party without bringing outsiders to the party. That request was also ignored by the leader. Although I tried to resolve this situation it became futile.

Q: Are you still a member of the UNP?

A: For more than 50 years I have been a member of the UNP and still I am a UNP member although they have suspended me from the Working Committee.

Q: What will happen to the inquiry initiated against you by the UNP?

A: I don't know what action they would take against me. But one thing is sure. Still I am a member of the UNP to which I have worked for more than 50 years. I have not ruined the party like others. I have spent a lot of money on behalf of the party. I have not even thought of going against the UNP leadership but I am disheartened by his actions. But I am not worried about what action they are going to take against me.

Q: You voted with the Government at the Emergency debate at the parliament. Why did you decide to vote with the Government?

A: I decided to vote with the Government because we should all support the good work done by the Government. Though we are from a different political party we should support the good work of the government.

Q: What is your next plan. Are you going to join the Government?

A: I don't know what will happen next. I have still not joined the Government. But one thing I want to do is to serve the people in the Kandy district for the rest of my life whether I would become a Minister or not. It is upto the President to decide what I should be given. I am ready and committed to work for the people.

Q: You became a Minister in the UNF Government in 2001. Couldn't you serve the people at that time?

A: I was the Cabinet Minister of Co-operative Development during the UNF Government. But I could not serve the people in Kandy because we were in power only for two years. But during the past few years I was able to serve the people in Kandy as the Government allocated us funds for several projects in the Kandy district. President allocated Rs. 25 million for those projects twice. So I could serve the people during the period of President Mahinda Rajapaksa than I was a Cabinet Minister.

Q: You are representing the Muslim community in Kandy who had voted you as a member of the UNP. What is their response about your move?

A: The people who voted me are always with me. They already approve my decision and ready to work with me whatever the decision I am going to take.

Q: How is the support of the Sinhala community?

A: I am always working closely with the Sinhala community. Sinhalese is the majority community in this district. They have voted me at elections. That is why I got majority preferential votes in the district.

Q: The Government has decided to bring Constitutional Amendments to remove limitations for any person to contest the Presidential elections for any number of terms. What is your position regarding this?

A: That is a good move. We should not bar any person contesting the Presidential elections for any number of terms. With this amendment even Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga can contest the Presidential elections again. My opinion is that President Rajapaksa or any other person can contest the Presidential elections as long as people are supporting them. If he or she doesn't have people's support they cannot win the elections. Therefore, we should not oppose it. We should support these Constitutional amendments.

Q: But, the UNP has decided to oppose those amendments?

A: My position is that all UNPers should get together and support the Constitutional amendments proposed by the Government. I am inviting all the UNP MPs to support this Constitutional amendments. As a party they should support it. If they decided to support it we all can tell the world that Sri Lanka is taking unanimous decisions on political issues.

Q: Recently President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited you when he was in Kandy. What were your feeling when he visited you?

A: When we were breaking the fast he visited us. I was very happy to see. The people there at the Mosque were also happy to see him. He talked to me and the people there and had a very good time there. He had a good smile when he talked to people there. I was very pleased by his visit and was honoured by his visit.

Q: What will be your future in politics?

A: That depends. But I am sure for the next ten years or so I am going to serve the people. Before, I die I have a duty by the people. I will do what is due for the people. Next week I will present my policy. Then people will realise what I am going to do in future.