MDP calls for Haidar’s suspension citing he should bear responsibility in land case

Main opposition MDP, citing Housing Minister Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed must take responsibility over the allegations against Housing Development Corporation (HDC) for suppsedly giving  land plots under the ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme to people who were not on the list of recipients in direct violation of regulations, has called for his suspension.

Documents leaked on social media appear to show that multiple people were given land from Hulhumale’ under the ‘Binveriya’ scheme despite not being on the list of recipients released in 2023 during the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration.

This includes HDC’s Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed’s elder brother, Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, the deputy managing director of Male’ Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC).

The allegations have been denied by Fazul during a press conference last night.

However, on Thursday morning, the Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) suspended Fazul alongside the rest of HDC’s board members except for Chairperson Ahmed Nasif.

Speaking at a press conference held by MDP on Thursday, former State Minister for Housing Akram Kamaluddin accused the current administration of serial theft of land. He noted that the case was brought to the attention of Housing Ministry back in July and in this trajectory, questioned why action had not been promptly initiated back then. 

Akram said it is not just Fazul who should be held responsible over the case, adding his suspension alone does not conclude the case.

“Housing Ministry would be aware of all these details when they oversaw this. HDC will not be made aware of plots that are vacant. Without Housing Ministry sharing these details, HDC will not be privy to this,” he explained.

“…I call on Haidar to resign. The President should immediately suspend him until the probe into the case is complete,” he added.

South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem who also spoke at the press conference said the case is a theft involving the interests of a family. He noted that Fazul and his younger sister Fizana Rasheed sit on the committee in charge of overseeing social housing matters. As such, he underscored the need to suspect the individuals to conduct an independent investigation into the case.

Meekail further said efforts are underway to probe the case within the Parliament. In this regard, he conveyed plans to summon Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to the Independent Institutions Committee and HDC to the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Committee.

He alleged that the ‘Binveriya’ scheme of former MDP administration which ensured housing for Male’ residents who had gone long without it, had been scrutinized all this time in order to facilitate this corruption.

Commenting on the case on Thursday morning, the President’s Office’s Chief Spokesperson Heena Waleed affirmed that the rights of any of the recipients of land under the ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme have not and will not be violated.

Notably, police raided HDC headquarters on Wednesday in connection to the case which is also under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The case has come to light amid concerns from recipients of land and flats over the delays in the handover of their rightful properties by the current administration.