Minister of Housing, Land, and Urban Development Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed has confirmed that the current administration will not uphold its predecessor’s promise regarding the allocation of flats to beneficiaries. This reversal affects the housing scheme initiated during President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s tenure, which promised 4,000 flats in Hulhumalé Phase II.
Addressing the People’s Majlis Petition Committee, Haidar responded to a petition opposing the revocation of the list of flat recipients, as previously gazetted by the former administration. Despite previous assurances from then-presidential candidate Mohamed Muizzu that the allocated flats would not be retracted, Haidar announced the administration’s intention to cancel and review the list, with plans to release a revised list later this year.
Committee members emphasized Muizzu’s election campaign pledge that no allocated flats would be taken back if beneficiaries had received a state-issued confirmation document. Haidar, however, dismissed these claims, referencing Muizzu’s statements during the ‘Ahaa’ program and suggesting no current alignment between the president’s previous promises and the actions of relevant authorities.
MP for Velidhoo constituency, Mohammed Abbas, argued that state-confirmed documents should remain valid and warned that disregarding them could prompt legal compensation claims. Abbas highlighted the potential legal repercussions of not honoring these government-issued documents.
Haidar’s statements indicated a significant shift in government policy, with the administration planning a comprehensive re-evaluation of the allocated flats. He criticized the previous method of assessing living conditions for allocating flats, suggesting it led to fraud and misinformation. The minister insisted that any necessary reassessments would be conducted with available data.
Haidar’s remarks have rendered the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) recent report on 825 confirmed eligible recipients effectively obsolete. When pressed by lawmakers, Haidar did not clarify the fate of these recipients. The administration intends to publish a revised list in October 2024, omitting personal information of the beneficiaries.
The government’s new approach starkly contrasts with Muizzu’s past pledges. The re-evaluation process and subsequent new list are poised to disrupt the previous efforts and reports by committees and the ACC, leaving many in uncertainty.
This shift has incited significant public concern, particularly among Malé residents awaiting land allocations under the “Binveriyaa” scheme. The delay in handing over these plots, despite the issuance of confirmation documents, has led to widespread frustration and recent protests.
The administration’s failure to uphold its promises has sparked a wave of discontent on social media, as residents voice their concerns over the delayed land handovers. With the revised list set for publication, many await clarity on their housing futures amidst a backdrop of broken promises and political unrest.
