Housing minister unable to attend Parliament over ‘family emergency’

The Maldives’ housing minister, Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed, was unable to attend the Parliament sitting on Monday, during which he was set to be questioned regarding the progress of housing projects launched during the last Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration.

The Parliament is empowered by the constitution to summon government ministers for questioning.

Haidar had been summoned for Monday’s sitting in response to a request made by North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudoo), a lawmaker from the main opposition MDP, which had held office from 2018-2023.

He asked Haidar for an explanation regarding when the government will hand over land awarded under the MDP administration’s ‘Binveriya’ scheme, specifically when the handover of land from Gulhifalhu will begin. He also asked when the government will hand over the first 4,000 flats being developed under the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme – another one of the last administration’s housing projects.

However, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla announced that Haidar was unable to attend the sitting due to a family emergency.

He said that Haidar would be asked to attend the Parliament at a later date of his convenience.

Haidar had also failed to attend a July 16 meeting called by the Parliament’s Petitions Committee, in response to a petition asking authorities not to cancel the list of recipients of flats under the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme. His absence sparked criticism from committee members.

The members said that the admin desk announced Haidar’s absence after they already arrived for the meeting. Some of the members saw Haidar’s absence as a sign of disrespect.

The delay in handover of housing awarded under the previous administration’s schemes, especially the delay in handover of the first 4,000 flats under the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme, has sparked continuous protests.