The government has begun giving out applications for land in the newly reclaimed Hulhumale' Phase II area, even after Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)’s order against it.

After President Abdulla Yameen’s defeat in the election, the Anti-Corruption Commission and president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s office requested the government to refrain from starting new projects due to the change in administration.

However, even though President Yameen has 41 days until the end of his term, the housing ministry on Sunday announced its plan to sell 400 pieces of land from the newly reclaimed area in Hulhumale’, exclusively to citizens registered to capital city Male’.

At a press conference on Sunday, housing minister Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said that their new project aims to sell 1,000 square feet per land, with MVR 400 per square foot; the total cost of a piece of land being MVR 400,000.

Minister Muizzu also said that they will give out the land to the applicants who are most in need of housing.

The Anti-Corruption Commission ordered the housing ministry to halt its project right after the announcement. However, the ministry began handing out applications on Sunday evening and long queues immediately formed in its premises.

The government, which has been marred by numerous allegations of corruption, is set to receive MVR 160 million from the project.