The government has stopped issuing and accepting applications to purchase land in the newly reclaimed Hulhumale’ Phase II.

A housing ministry employee said that it was stopped temporarily.

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

The minister said that applicants can make a down payment of MVR 25,000 and pay the rest in a 10-year period.

The ministry earlier stated that it would be accepting payments through to Thursday and make the selections in a draw on Saturday. Usually, the government accepts applications for social housing projects for two months.

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.

The Anti-Corruption Commission ordered the housing ministry to halt its project right after the announcement on Sunday.