Yameen Accuses Government of ‘Robbery’ in Rasmalé Reclamation Project

Former president Abdulla Yameen has accused the government of enabling large-scale financial losses through the Rasmalé land reclamation project by awarding it to a foreign company at a significantly higher cost instead of a local contractor.

Speaking at a People’s National Front (PNF) townhouse meeting, Yameen said that he had heard the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) had initially proposed to undertake the Rasmalé project at a lower price, but the government rejected the bid. He claimed authorities instead awarded the project to a foreign company at a rate of USD 2 per square metre, which he described as excessive given the scale of the reclamation.

Yameen alleged that had the project been awarded to a local company, such financial losses would not have occurred, accusing the government of allowing what he termed “robbery” to take place.

The former president also drew parallels between the current administration and previous governments in the allocation of reclaimed land. He accused former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of dividing and distributing Hulhumalé land arbitrarily, claiming that President Mohamed Muizzu is now doing the same. 

Addressing accountability, Yameen claimed authorities were unable to prosecute former Housing Development Corporation (HDC)’s former Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul over his illegally obtaining and distributing land from Hulhumale scheme, due to a lack of evidence and asserted that no evidence would be found against President Muizzu either. He alleged that evidence related to land distribution was deliberately destroyed, referencing the burning of the Green Building, which he claimed was set on fire to eliminate records.

Yameen said damage to public and private property did not begin under the current administration, arguing that such actions started under the previous government. He added that land ownership remains one of the most pressing issues facing the country today.