Those who labeled others as irreligious for awarding airport contract to GMR are today acting in direct contradiction to national interests: Fayyaz

Former Economic Minister and former Chairperson of the MDP, Fayyaz Ismail, has stated that those who once labeled the 25-year lease of the airport to GMR for private development as "selling out the nation" and branded it "irreligious" are now acting in complete contradiction to the principles of nationalism.

Speaking on Sunday's "Fashaairu" program, Fayyaz stated that while the opposition at the time branded the MDP as "irreligious" over the GMR airport deal, those same individuals are now acting against the interests of both religion and nationalism under the guise of patriotism. He further noted that through sophisticated public relations efforts, they continue to mislead the public regarding these matters.

Fayyaz stated that while attracting a major investment like Ras Male' is a positive concept, there are numerous concerning issues surrounding the matter.

Expressing concern over the permanent allocation of Maldivian land to foreign entities, Fayyaz stated that granting permanent land ownership to non-citizens is unacceptable. He emphasized that if the government intends to pursue such a policy, it must first present the matter to the public, facilitate a national debate, and obtain the people's consent.

Furthermore, Fayyaz stated that instead of utilizing a supermajority to push through constitutional amendments within five minutes, the government should engage in dialogue with the opposition and allow the matter to be decided by the will of the people.

Citing the Palestinian conflict as a stark example of the dangers involved, Fayyaz noted that Zionists began purchasing Palestinian land during the Ottoman Empire. He highlighted how, over several centuries, they acquired land rights that have now escalated into a major global crisis.

Furthermore, he warned that granting permanent land ownership to non-Muslim foreigners could lead to international pressure in the future, potentially forcing the country to accommodate their rights and religious practices.

Furthermore, Fayyaz stated that the decision to grant land in Ras Male' to a foreign company, Eagle Hills, was an economically and commercially flawed move. He noted that this allocation comes after the state incurred significant expenses to reclaim the land, while simultaneously halting essential public healthcare services and critical infrastructure projects across the islands.

He noted that the reclamation of the site is estimated to cost approximately $1.3 billion, with an existing debt of around $700 million already incurred for the portion reclaimed so far. Fayyaz further highlighted that funneling the nation's entire dollar supply into this project has driven up the exchange rate, causing significant financial hardship for the public.

Fayyaz Ismail stated that signing such a significant agreement just three weeks after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu denied rumors of selling Ras Male' raises serious questions. He further questioned why the government agreed to a mere 10 percent revenue share while providing land for free, noting that in other countries, Eagle Hills typically grants the state a 30 to 35 percent stake.

Eagle Hills will not finalize such a matter within three weeks. That is a hundred percent certainty. I am confident that it will take them several months to reach a decision of this nature.

Fayyaz Ismail

He further noted that although the company's website suggests they can subdivide the 99-year leasehold land to develop and sell apartments to foreigners on a permanent basis, the government has failed to disclose clear information regarding the matter.

Speaking on the Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) efforts as the opposition, Fayyaz stated that the fear of losing government jobs has deterred citizens from participating in street protests. However, he noted that this is typical during the early stages of an administration and expressed confidence that the public's resolve will strengthen over time.