Minority opposition, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has accused the government of including names in the newly published list of eligible applicants of the Gedhoruveriyaa housing scheme that were not in the original list of 4,000 names put together by the former MDP administration.
The incumbent government reviewed the previous administration's list, and issued the new list of eligible applicants on 27 February. According to the new list, only 1,820 applicants were actually eligible. Out of this, 1,423 met the requirements to receive three-bedroom apartments while 397 were on the list to receive two-bedroom apartments.
In a press conference held today regarding concerns over the new list, Vice Chairperson of MDP, Ibrahim Waheed, alleged that there were 577 new names on the current list, despite the government having claimed to have only reviewed the 4,000 names on the MDP list.
"[Housing Minister] Dr. Muthhalib's new list, which was made after reviewing our list of 4,000 [applicants] has included the information of 577 individuals as eligible candidates, who were not on our list," Ibrahim said.
He also added that the marks for 56 of these individuals were tampered with and increased.
However, the Housing Ministry stated that verification was conducted only for applicants who scored 75 points for three-bedroom apartments and those who scored 73 points for two-bedroom apartments. And while it was announced that those who received 75 points will have to participate in a draw, the names were added in the verification process, the ministry explained.
According to the ministry, they did not consider any of the applicants who scored less than 75 points.
Akram Kamaluddin, who was the State Minister for Housing during MDP's government and at the most senior member of the flat committee, accused the current administration of putting the list together with names of people they want to give flats to.
The Housing Ministry had earlier said that the flats allocated to anyone who was on the list would not be allocated to anyone else.
Akram described this as a direct violation of the rights of many people. He also said MDP has to stand up for those who have lost their rights.
As such, MDP has also opened the opportunity to submit complaints regarding the flat list to the party tomorrow night onwards.
"Everynight from tomorrow night onwards, complaints can also be submitted by visiting the Dhandikoshi Haruge on Chaanadhanee Magu between 9:15 to 11:30," the party said.
The opportunity to submit complaints to the government regarding new flat list is open for a period of one month. The revised list has removed 424 people from the list of flat recipients due to a change in their points. The list also includes the reasons why applicants were designated as not eligible.