Business is a Mutually Beneficial Transaction; Ras Male' Deal Cannot Be Defined as Business: Rasheed

Former Member of Parliament for the Central Maafannu constituency, Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonda), has stated that business is a transaction conducted on equal terms between two parties, and that the Ras Male' deal cannot be classified as a business transaction.

Speaking during RaajjeTV’s "Dhivehinge Bin Dhivehinnah" coverage, Rasheed stated that the current situation arose because a secret attempt to sell off the country behind the backs of the Maldivian people was exposed. He further noted that while such actions are being carried out, in other parts of the world, those who speak out against such dealings are often met with violence, killed, or forcibly disappeared.

In this regard, Rasheed stated that when such projects are carried out, local political figures and media outlets are effectively bought off.

We are witnessing instances where local media personnel are being taken abroad to produce reports tailored to specific agendas. For example, when showcasing places like Dubai, they are directed to focus solely on certain architectural developments while intentionally omitting any mention of the presence of temples or other religious sites in those locations.

Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonda)

Noting that the Ras Male' project was handed over to a foreign entity without any commercial transaction, Rasheed stated that the project offers no means of generating revenue for the Maldives.

Rasheed stated that although one billion dollars of public funds have already been invested, the money has yet to be recovered. He further noted that programs such as the sale of residency rights are typically conducted in remote, isolated locations, and emphasized that the Maldives is not such a place.