MDP’s letter regarding flats and land issue goes unanswered, fueling public frustration

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has stated that they have not yet received a response to the letter submitted to the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure regarding the delay in issuing flats and land plots allocated by the former administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Speaking about the lack of response to the letter submitted on January 7, former Member of Parliament for Hulhumalé constituency, Ali Niyaz, criticized the government's handling of the issue. Niyaz made these comments in an interview with RaajjeTV while participating in a public protest near the housing ministry over the delay in issuing land and flats.

Niyaz stated that the flats and land plots allocated by the former administration should be issued within the coming months, and that the delay was due to political motives. He also said that the main opposition party would intensify its efforts to secure the rights of ordinary citizens in the future. Niyaz mentioned that the main opposition party has formed internal committees to work on this issue and that the party is giving special attention to the housing problem.

Further, Niyaz noted that when MDP members went to the housing ministry on Sunday to seek a response to the letter they addressed, they were not allowed to enter the ministry. He explained that the security personnel at the ministry, which is currently operating at Dharubaaruge, denied them entry, stating that protesters were not allowed inside the area. Niyaz pointed out that even when they explained they had come to get a response to an letter that was submitted officially, they were still not allowed to enter the ministry.

MDP has stated that the flats and land plots allocated by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration should be issued within the coming months. The party has also warned that they will take direct action if the land and flats are not issued. In addition to this, MDP has called for the government to take responsibility for the case where attempts were made to allocate a plot in Hulhumalé Phase II to the brother of Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed, the former Managing Director of Housing Development Corporation (HDC), using forged documents.

The government most recently stated that the flat list will be published before the upcoming fasting month of Ramadan. However, the public continues to question whether the promise will be fulfilled.