Didi accuses Muizzu of concealing Ras Male' contract after promising transparency

Member of Parliament for the Maradhoo constituency, Ahmed Didi, has stated that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu assumed office with a pledge not to conceal a single letter of any agreement he executes; however, he has now hidden the entire agreement after selling off a significant portion of Ras Male'.

Speaking during RaajjeTV’s "Dhivehinge Bin Dhivehinnah" coverage, Didi noted that the public is expressing deep concern over the government's continued failure to address allegations that a significant portion of Ras Male' has been leased to Eagle Hills for 99 years.

The Member stated that one of the primary reasons the public voted this administration into power was its repeated pledge to maintain absolute transparency. However, he noted that since assuming office, the government's actions have been characterized by secrecy and the deliberate misleading of the public. Didi further highlighted that the statements issued by the government regarding this agreement are inconsistent with the information provided by Eagle Hills.

This is a matter of profound public concern. Whether looking at social media or through the numerous direct inquiries we receive, it is clear that many citizens are distressed by the lack of information and the prevailing uncertainty. People simply do not know what is happening. While senior government officials have cited a figure of $20 billion, the company involved is reporting $12 billion. Furthermore, the timeframe for this investment remains unclear; while some suggest a 99-year period, there remains a staggering $8 billion discrepancy between the figures provided by the government and those disclosed by the company.

Ahmed Didi

Didi emphasized that the public has a right to know the details of these matters, noting that the expenditures are funded by the taxpayers. He further highlighted that the full terms of the agreement must be transparent to the citizens, stating that the current public outcry stems from this lack of transparency.

Didi also criticized the government's claims that Israeli citizens would be barred from residing in Ras Male'. Didi noted that many Israelis hold dual citizenship and would likely enter the Maldives using passports from other countries.

A simple Google search reveals a reality accessible to every Maldivian citizen: a significant percentage of Israeli settlers hold dual citizenship. Many of these individuals migrated to Israel after 1967 and often utilize their secondary passports when traveling abroad rather than their Israeli ones. If such individuals are permitted to enter the Maldives and purchase residency for millions of dollars, they will likely attempt to exert the same dominance and influence here as they have established elsewhere.

Ahmed Didi

Highlighting that Israelis do not adhere to international laws or the regulations of other nations, Didi stated that if 1,000 or 2,000 of their citizens were to enter the Maldives, it would be impossible to deport them.

He noted that this is the primary cause of public concern and insisted that the details of the agreement must be disclosed to the citizens. Didi concluded by calling on the government to make the agreement public as soon as possible.