Meekail questions Ras Malé deal, alleges undisclosed financial interests

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem has alleged that undisclosed financial interests may be behind the government's decision to allocate 500 hectares of reclaimed land in Ras Malé to UAE-based developer Eagle Hills.

Meekail, who represents the Galolhu South constituency, made the allegation during Wednesday's parliamentary debate on a resolution he submitted calling for the government to disclose all details of its agreement with Eagle Hills concerning the Ras Malé development project.

The resolution raises concerns over the government's handling of the agreement, under which a substantial portion of land reclaimed for Ras Malé is to be allocated to the foreign developer.

Speaking during the debate, Meekail called on senior government officials to be transparent about the arrangement.

He said his main concern was that the government was pursuing the agreement without disclosing its terms, potentially placing land beyond Maldivian control and allowing financial influence to be exerted over the state.

Meekail criticised the government for what he described as a contradiction between its previous political campaign and its current approach to agreements with foreign countries.

He said the ruling administration had come to power after campaigning against secrecy surrounding the former MDP government's agreement with India over the Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF) project.

According to Meekail, the same political figures who had criticised the MDP government for not disclosing the UTF agreement were now pursuing a land arrangement involving Ras Malé without making its details public.

He also questioned the government's decision to grant land rights to a foreign company for 99 years, referring to earlier statements by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu that Ras Malé would not be given to foreigners, even on a short-term lease.

Meekail said the decision to allocate such a large area of land for 99 years raised questions about the government's consistency and transparency.

He further alleged that land reclaimed using public funds and foreign currency was being handed over to a foreign company without an acquisition cost.

He argued that the arrangement suggested there were undisclosed considerations behind the government's decision.

Meekail also claimed that the project would not generate revenue for the Maldivian state, questioning why the government was pursuing the agreement with such urgency.

"The Maldivian state will not receive any money from this project. However, what is clear to us is that the reason this project is being pushed forward with such force and urgency is that money has gone into someone's pockets," Meekail alleged.

The MP did not identify any individuals he believed had benefited financially or provide evidence of payments in the remarks reported.

His allegations were made during parliamentary debate on the MDP's resolution seeking the disclosure of the agreement between the government and Eagle Hills.