Attorney General Ahmed Usham has responded to Yameen's remarks stating that the Tourism Act was amended during former President Abdulla Yameen's government to allow tourist resorts to be leased for 99 years.

Yameen, who is against the "Maldives Waterfront and Marina Project" set to begin at Rasmale', has described the project as selling the country, and has warned Attorney General Usham and the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr. Abdulla Muththalib that they will face legal repercussions.

The government has signed the commercial terms agreement for the project with United Arab Emirates (UAE) company Eagle Hills.

Yameen said that even though a 500 hectare plot is being given to Eagle Hills for 99 years, as per how islands and lagoons are generally given for tourism purposes, it amounts to sale of the land.

Usham responded to Yameen's comments on X, stating the lease period of resorts being changed to 99 years was done during Yameen's government and that it had previously been 50 years.

"The Tourism Act was initially written in Maldives in 1999. Under the act at the time, resorts could only be leased for 25 years at the most. This period was increased to 50 years when it was amended in 2010 during former President Mohamed Nasheed's government. After that, the act was amended in 2015 during former President Abdulla Yameen's government whereby the lease period was increased once more, this time to 99 years," wrote Usham in the social media post.

According to Attorney General Usham, when an island that has been leased for 99 years is taken back after the lease for the developed resort expires, the government still has to pay a sum after subtracting investment costs.

However, Usham said the Rasmale' project is not moving forward in such a manner.

"The Rasmale' project that has been planned is not being done in that manner and is being governed under the current Maldivian Land Act," said Usham.

Usham highlighted that it was a commercial terms agreement that was signed with Eagle Hills for the Rasmale' project.

Usham went on to say that a definitive agreement needs to be signed before the project begins and the relevant laws need to be passed in Parliament before that happens.

Usham assured that the government will not violate the Constitution or the law in moving forward with the project.