Minister Ihusaan Accuses Yameen of Religious Fearmongering Over Ras Malé Project

Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihusaan has issued a sharp rebuke to former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom following his opposition to the proposed Ras Malé development, accusing him of manufacturing religious divisions for political gain.

The row escalated after Yameen called on UAE-based developer Eagle Hills to abandon the “Maldives Waterfront and Marina” project, describing the firm as a “depraved bunch” and characterising the initiative as a “Jewish settlement in a 100% Muslim society” that undermines solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Calling this project a “Jewish settlement” is a blatant distortion of facts and a disgraceful attempt to exploit religious sentiments for political gain. The Maldivian people’s unwavering support for Palestine is not a political weapon to be used to spread fear, hatred and misinformation. Just because this investment did not materialise under your presidency does not give you the right to demonise it today. National development must never become hostage to personal political bitterness. Criticise policies all you want, but stop manufacturing religious divisions and misleading the public for political relevance. The Maldives deserves responsible leadership, not reckless fearmongering.

— Minister of Homeland Security, Labour & Technology (@min_mohst) October 11, 2026

Rejecting the claims, Ihusaan stated that calling the development a “Jewish settlement” was a “blatant distortion of facts and a disgraceful attempt to exploit religious sentiments”. He added that the Maldivian public’s support for Palestine should never be weaponised to spread fear, hatred, and misinformation, noting that national development must not fall victim to personal political bitterness over investments that failed to materialise during Yameen’s presidency.

Eagle Hills you are a depraved bunch exploiting a morally bankrupt regime that has lost its support with the voters. A Jewish settlement in a 100% Muslim society that cherishes the Palestinian cause showcases your hypocrisy n depravation. You are well advised to scrap ur project. We have nothing but disdain for this project.

— Abdulla Yameen (@prz_ymn) October 11, 2026

The exchange coincides with criticism from Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla, who challenged the consistency of Yameen’s stance. Abdul Raheem compared Yameen’s current opposition to the pushback faced by a proposed Saudi-backed investment in Faafu Atoll during Yameen’s presidency in 2017, questioning why Yameen is now adopting the same blocking tactics he once condemned as political betrayal.

ރައީސް ޔާމީނުގެ ވެރިކަމުގައި ސައުދީގެ ކުންފުންޏަކުން ފ.އަތޮޅުގައި ހިންގަން އުޅުނު މަޝްރޫޢު ހުއްޓުވަން އެމް.ޑީ.ޕީ އިސްވެ އޭރު ކުރި މަސައްކަތާ ރަސްމާލޭގައި ޔޫއޭއީގެ ކުންފުންޏަކުން ހިންގަން މި އުޅޭ ބިޔަ މަޝްރޫޢަށް ހުރަސް އެޅުމަށް މިއަދު ރައީސް ޔާމީނު އިސްވެހުރެ އެމްޑީޕީއާ ގުޅިގެން ކުރަމުން އެ ގެންދާ މަސައްކަތާ ހުރީކޮން ތަފާތެއްތޯ؟އޭރު އެ ދެއްކެވި ވާހަކަޔާ މިއަދު އެ ދައްކަވާ ވާހަކަޔާ ދިމާވަނީ ކިހާވަރަކަށްތޯ؟އޭރު ވިދާޅުވީ އެމްޑީޕީ ވެރިކަމުގެ ދަހިވެތި ކަމުގައި ގައުމާ ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ޣައްދާރުވީކަމަށް. މިއަދު ހަމަ އެ ދަހިވެތިކަމުގައި އެ މަނިކުފާނަށް އެ ޣައްދާރުވެވެނީ ގައުމާ ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ނޫންތޯ؟ ވެރިކަމުގެ ދަހިވެތިކަމުގައި ތިމާއަށް ކުރެވޭ ނުކުރެވޭކަމެއް ދެއްކޭ ނުދެއްކޭ ވާހަކައެއް އެނގިވަޑައި ނުގަންނަ ހިސާބަށް ދިޔައީތޯ؟ ބަލަގަ ދިވެހި ރައްޔިތުންނަކީ ބަޔަކު ޖަހާހާ ބެރަކަށް ނަށާވަރަށްވުރެ މާ ބޮޑަށް ތަޞައްރުފު ފުދިފައި ތިބި މާ ހަރުދަނާ ބައެއް. ގައުމާ މެދު ވިސްނާ ފިކުރުކޮށް ރަނގަޅާ ނުބައި ވަކިކުރަން ދަންނަ ބައެއް. މާތްاللهގެ ތަނަވަސް ރަޙުމަތްފުޅުން ރަސްމާލޭގެ މަޝްރޫޢު ނުހުއްޓުވޭނެ. އިރާދަކުރެއްވިއްޔާ ރައީސް ޑޮކްޓަރ މުޢިއްޒުގެ ވެރިކަމުގައި ލަހެއްނުވެ މި ބިޔަ މަޝްރޫޢު ފެށިގެންދާނެ. އަދި މި މަޝްރޫޢު ކުރިއަށްދާނީ ދިވެހި ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާގެ ގާނޫނު އަސާސީއާ ގާނޫނުތަކާ އެއްގޮތްވާ ގޮތުގެމަތީން. މުސްތަގްބަލުގައި މީގެ ފުރިހަމަ ފައިދާ ދިވެހީންނަށް ލިބިގެންދާނެ. ދިވެހީން ބޭނުންވަނީ ހަމަޖެހުން،ރައްކާތެރިކަން،ތަރައްގީ ޝިޢާރަކީ އެންމެ ފުރަތަމަ ގައުމު.

— Abdul Raheem Abdulla (@Banafsaa) October 11, 2026

Despite the opposition from Yameen and the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) regarding foreign ownership terms and transparency, government officials affirmed that the project with Abu Dhabi-based Eagle Hills will proceed in compliance with the Constitution and national laws.

During Yameen’s administration in 2017, a proposed Saudi-backed investment project in Faafu Atoll became the subject of significant political controversy. The proposal envisaged a large-scale tourism and real estate development, while opposition figures raised concerns about national sovereignty, land ownership and the potential implications of the investment.

The MDP opposed the proposal, arguing that it could compromise national interests. The planned development did not proceed after the proposed investors withdrew.

The dispute has resurfaced in the debate over Ras Malé, with Yameen opposing the Eagle Hills project and the current administration questioning the consistency of that opposition with the political positions taken during the Faafu Atoll controversy.