Parliament’s Supermajority Under Scrutiny for Rights Failures

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has raised concerns that the current 20th parliament, dominated by the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), is failing to safeguard citizens’ rights.

During a parliamentary session today, MDP MPs staged a protest in response to Minister of Housing, Land, and Urban Development Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed’s answers regarding the allocation of land plots under the previous administration’s ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme.

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The Speaker of Parliament announced the names of four MDP members who had disrupted the session, leading to an adjournment as they refused to leave the chambers. The Speaker was ultimately forced to suspend the sitting due to the obstruction.

Among those reprimanded by the Speaker was MDP Parliamentary Group (PG) Leader Ibrahim Nazil. Following the session, Nazil held a press conference where he asserted that the role of parliament members is to protect citizens’ rights and hold the government accountable. He accused the current administration of impeding these efforts.

Nazil argued that today’s events illustrated the PNC’s supermajority’s unwillingness to ensure citizens’ rights are upheld. He rejected Minister Haidar’s claims that some land plots had been issued from “the middle of the seas,” asserting that no such instances exist. Nazil criticised the government for halting progress on land allocations and shifting focus to the Fushidhiggaru Falhu project. He expressed concern over delays in issuing land plots and the minister’s failure to provide a definitive timeline.

Earlier, Minister Haidar expressed dissatisfaction with the land allocation practices of the previous government, citing issues with plots in Hulhumale’ being situated over streets and company goods, and questioning the validity of plots located in un-reclaimed seas and lagoons.

Haidar confirmed that all land plots issued under the ‘Binveriya’ scheme from Hulhumale’ Phase 2 will be allocated by the end of October.