President: Nothing done for the development of Male’ by end of last MDP administration

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, remarking the last MDP administration had not undertaken any efforts to develop the Maldivian capital, Male’, has cited this as the reason why Male’ residents had turned against the administration.

He made the remark while speaking at PNC campaign event for the upcoming parliamentary election on Monday night.

“This has been changed in the last presidential election. People trusted the words I said. This was because they [MDP administration] attempted to address the most the pertinent issue for Male’ residents [housing] at the near end of the term while having the majority in the incumbent parliamentary assembly and was ruling,” he said.

President Muizzu said MDP’s pledge during the 2018’s election had also been to issue land for housing, which he cited as the main reason why the administration was elected.

Nevertheless, he said this had not been prioritized, despite having been given the majority in the parliament.

He added that Male’ residents elected him mayor during the local council election because they mistrusted the administration.

He went on to accuse the administration of not providing cooperation to the council when the council had appealed for cooperation in addressing housing issues.

“I had requested to change the port to Thilafushi instead of developing one in Gulhifalhu which would trigger loss of land. That a shift to Thilafushi would see a huge space to issue land for Male’ residents. But, (he) said this cannot be done. That is literally what was said. That Thilafushi has to be kept as a space to bury the waste collected from Male’ in the next 50 years and to be reclaimed by burying waste,” President Muizzu said was the response of his predecessor, former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to his request.

However, he noted that Thilafushi reclamation project was announced later in contradiction.

President Muizzu stressed that Male’ residents had not been prioritized by the former MDP administration. On the contrary, he said his administration, by allocating priority to Male’ residents, is undertaking efforts to resolve issues related to housing parking and the roads.

He urged Male’ residents to provide cooperation in these efforts.