Opposition Demands Accountability Over Hulhumalé Land Allocation Scandal

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has called for swift accountability for all officials implicated in the alleged fraudulent allocation of a plot of land in Hulhumalé under the Binveriyaa housing scheme.

This comes in the wake of revelations that two individuals, including Fazeel Rasheed, the brother of Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Managing Director Fazul Rasheed, allegedly used a falsified agreement to claim ownership of the land. Reports indicate that Fazeel applied to HDC in July for permits to construct a boundary wall, which prompted scrutiny from the Housing Ministry. Officials flagged the discrepancy, confirming Fazeel was not a recipient of the Binveriyaa scheme.

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The issue surfaced publicly yesterday after leaked documents, including the falsified agreement and correspondence between HDC and the Housing Ministry, appeared on social media. In response, the police launched an investigation, and both Fazul and Fazeel Rasheed were suspended from their government positions.

Addressing the media today, MDP members, including former senior officials of the Housing Ministry, criticised the Ministry’s handling of the case. They suggested negligence or complicity within the Ministry and called for Housing Minister Dr Ali Haidar’s resignation.

Former State Minister for Housing Akram Kamaluddin and former Senior Executive Director at the Housing Ministry Mohamed Arif explained the processes for land allocation and building permits under the Binveriyaa scheme, initiated during the previous administration. Arif raised concerns over how the specific land plot number, confidential to the Ministry, was exploited.

MDP spokesperson Anas Abdul Sattar highlighted a five-month delay in addressing the matter despite the Ministry being alerted to the irregularities in July.

Adding to the criticism, MDP MP for Galolhu North, Mikail Naseem, called on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to suspend Minister Haidar and remove Fazeela Rasheed, a sibling of Fazul and Fazeel, from the government’s social housing committee. Mikail also vowed to summon the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and HDC representatives to parliamentary committees for inquiries, urging ACC members to fulfil their constitutional duties courageously.

Akram Kamaluddin proposed an independent audit of land and flat allocation schemes to restore public trust. Meanwhile, Anas reiterated that all individuals involved in the scandal, regardless of position, must be held accountable.