Planning Minister: Remainder of term President will be opening places

Minister of National Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam said that for the remaining year of the Presidential term, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will be opening completed projects.

Speaking at the ceremony held to inaugurate the opening of M.Veyvashu harbour project, Minister Aslam said that in the next year, the President would not have much time to spend in Male’ as he would be constantly travelling within the country to open various projects.

Aslam stated that the people will be the ones to make a decision whether this current speed of development will be retained or changes are to be made. He also added that it was up to the people whether everyone will be squeezed into Male’ City or not.

Criticizing the policies of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, he noted that his ideology was to bring 70 percent of the population to Male’. Aslam said that this would leave no one to live in the rest of the country, and there would be nothing to do on those islands.

“That is the [Yamee’s] policy. Because of that policy, none of these islands has been cared for. We at MDP have a vision. That is to decentralize the country and have all necessary services available from all the islands. Not to gather everyone to a single region.”

Additionally, he said that the day was coming, and he would like to ensure those living on the islands out of Male’ understood that. Noting that he too was from an island that is not Male’, Aslam said that he has never seen in his lifetime development going at the rate it is today.