South-Maafannu MP submits motion to outlaw foreign ownership of land

South-Maafannu constituency MP Abdulla Rifaau has submitted a motion to repeal the 2015 amendment allowing foreign ownership of land in the Maldives.

The motion was submitted and read in the People’s Majlis sitting held on Monday; the next sitting will have parliamentarians discuss the matter.

In his motion, MP Rifaau said that that allowing foreigners to purchase and permanently hold land in the Maldives undermines the country’s sovereignty and ‘complete independence’.

Rifaau was among 70 lawmakers – of the 85-member house – that voted in favour of passing the amendmet, proposed by his party, the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

While parliamentarians aligned with the Maldivian Democratic Party and the Jumhooree Party had also voted in favour of the amendment, PPM-aligned MP Mohamed Musthafa has since said that he and his collegues were coerced into voting in favour of it.

The People’s Majlis, Maldives’ unilateral parliament, passed an amendment to the Maldives Law Act in 2015 that allows foreigners to own land in the Maldives.

However, the legislature regulates this transaction thoroughly; under the criterion that the Majlis votes in favour of each sale, the buyer invests USD 100 billion, and that 70 percent of the potential purchase be reclaimed so as the island’s shoreline is visible at medium tide.

The amendment was met with dismay from both opposition to politiciansthat made voted in favour of the bill, and neighbouring nations.