“Housing for All” announced behind closed doors as minister avoids media scrutiny
Minister Muththalib announced the opening of applications for the Family Housing program but declined to take questions from journalists. He arrived 30 minutes late, delivered a five-minute prepared statement, and left immediately despite the event being billed as a press briefing. Media outlets were also barred from live broadcasting the session.
Housing Minister Muththalib (L) with President Muizzu (R) at an event to inaugurate the practical work of the Muli - Naalaafushi causeway project | president office
Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Dr. Abdulla Muththalib has concluded the official announcement of the government’s Housing for All policy by delivering a brief statement, while declining to allow journalists to ask questions.
The event, scheduled for 8am on Sunday morning, was meant to announce the opening of applications for flats and land plots under the Family Housing program, a central component of the “Housing for All” policy.
Due to the limited opportunities for direct engagement with the minister, members of the media attended the briefing expecting a question-and-answer session. Instead, the minister’s actions prompted criticism from several journalists present. Despite the scheduled 8am start time, he arrived at around 8:30am, read from a prepared statement lasting approximately five minutes, and left immediately afterward without taking any questions from the press.
The official invitation circulated to media outlets described the event as a press briefing. However, although the names of attending journalists and their respective media organizations were collected in advance, authorities also barred media outlets from broadcasting the session live.
The absence of media interaction has left numerous important questions about the government’s housing policies unanswered, limiting the media’s ability to provide clarity to the public. The incident also reflects broader public concerns over the ongoing difficulty in securing appointments or direct communication with the housing minister.
