The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development on Monday published the list of recipients of social housing 'Hiyaa' Project in the previous administration, revealing that it included 12 individuals related to MP Abdulla Haleel, parliament representative for Nilandhoo constituency, Faafu Atoll.
The individuals include the siblings as well as their respective spouses, and the wife of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)'s former Secretary General. In some cases, both partners had received housing units.
To elaborate, the Nilandhoo constituency parliamentarian's sister-in-law received a housing unit although her spouse was already awarded a housing unit through the Maldives Police Service housing programme.
Local media Mihaaru reported that a resident of Nilandhoo, Haleel's native island, stated that amongst those who secured housing, some were currently residing in the island.
None of the 12 individuals scored above 70 during the evaluation process.
When questioned regarding the matter, Haleel stated that “a lot of my relatives had children in the last five years". The lawmaker refused further comments.
It is estimated that most flat recipients were qualified unjustly during the former president’s administration.
Revealing only the number of forms submitted, the former administration failed to disclose the names of any flat recipients despite public pressure to do so.
On 13th February, the Presidential Committee formed by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to investigate issues related to the previous administration's controversial distribution of housing units declared that negligence was involved.
During Yameen's tenure, the former Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Dr Mohamed Muizzu was tasked with the distribution of apartment guarantees for the 7000 individuals who acquired housing through 'Hiyaa'.
The former administration maintained secrecy over the identities of those who received the guarantees by stating that personal information could not be released.
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