Even if islands and lagoons are reclaimed, the public believes there is no real benefit to be gained from such projects, says MP Ziyad.

The Member of Parliament for the Vaikaradhoo constituency, Hussain Ziyad, has stated that the public recognizes there is no genuine benefit from land and lagoon reclamation projects initiated solely to coincide with elections.

Speaking on RaajjeTV’s "Fala Surukhee" program, MP Ziyad severely criticized the government, noting that numerous land reclamation projects and other initiatives were launched across various islands to coincide with the three elections held on the 4th of this month.

Referring to the land reclamation project in HA. Dhidhdhoo, MP Ziyad stated that while residents are not opposed to the reclamation itself, the project brings them no joy. He noted that the people are currently facing hardships on all fronts and are struggling with a significant lack of financial resources.

Reflecting on the current situation, MP Ziyad stated that the public desires the restoration of the empowerment previously granted to local councils. He noted that citizens do not accept the amendments that have undermined the decentralization system.

The reclamation project began with the election. By the time voting concluded, one hundred hectares had been reclaimed, yet they secured only a single seat. This clearly demonstrates that the public rejects his actions for very specific reasons. It was not out of anger over the reclamation itself; rather, the people of Dhidhdhoo—a formidable constituency—saw through his deception. Abdulla Nazim is a key figure here, but beyond that, the President’s greatest animosity is directed toward councils generating their own revenue. He enters the office every morning only to scrutinize the accounts, checking exactly how much each council is earning. This election result is the direct consequence of that attitude. This was a resounding "no" to the amendments brought to the Decentralization Act. That is the core issue. The people did not reject him because they were angry about the land reclamation in Dhidhdhoo; they said no because of the motives behind those legal changes. They are reacting to the impact of those amendments. Furthermore, there is a critical shortage of essential medicine. Reclaiming land just for an election brings no joy to the people. There is no benefit to having more land if there is no money in their pockets and no basic services available.

Hussain Ziyad, the Member of Parliament for the Vaikaradhoo constituency.

Furthermore, MP Ziyad stated that beyond the failure to work towards the progress of the nation and its citizens, the government is facing a significant crisis of public confidence. He added that there is also a profound lack of trust within the administration itself.

Consequently, he stated that the public is now questioning every action taken by the government.