Speaker Abdul Raheem Challenges Yameen Over Opposition to Ras Malé Project

Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla has criticised former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom over his opposition to the proposed Ras Malé development, questioning the consistency of his position on foreign investment projects.

In a post on X, Abdul Raheem responded to Yameen’s call for UAE-based developer Eagle Hills to abandon the proposed Maldives Waterfront and Marina project at Ras Malé.

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

Yameen had described Eagle Hills as “a depraved bunch” and the administration of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu as a “morally bankrupt regime”. He also characterised the development as a “Jewish settlement in a 100% Muslim society”, arguing that it conflicted with the Maldives’ support for the Palestinian cause.

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

In his response, Abdul Raheem drew comparisons between Yameen’s current opposition to the Ras Malé project and the controversy surrounding a proposed Saudi investment in Faafu Atoll during Yameen’s presidency.

“What is the difference between the efforts MDP led in the past to stop the project planned by a Saudi company in Faafu Atoll during President Yameen’s administration, and the efforts President Yameen is leading today in collaboration with MDP to block this massive project being undertaken by a UAE company in Ras Malé?” Abdul Raheem wrote.

He also questioned whether statements made during the earlier dispute were consistent with Yameen’s current position.

Abdul Raheem further accused the former president of acting out of political ambition, referring to Yameen’s previous criticism of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) over its opposition to the Faafu Atoll proposal.

“Back then, he stated that MDP betrayed the nation and its citizens out of greed for power. Today, in that very same greed for power, isn’t he the one betraying the nation and its citizens?” the Speaker wrote.

He added that Maldivian citizens were capable of assessing the competing positions and distinguishing between right and wrong.

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 Abdul Raheem questioning the consistency of that opposition with the political positions taken during the Faafu Atoll controversy.

Abdul Raheem reaffirmed the government’s commitment to proceeding with the Ras Malé development, stating that the project would be implemented in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of the Maldives.

He said the initiative was intended to deliver long-term economic benefits and contribute to the country’s stability and security.