MPs disapprove Housing Ministry's absence at parliament committee meeting

Members of the parliament's Petition Committee have expressed strong disapproval over senior officials from the Ministry of Housing, Land, and Urban Development, including Minister Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed, failing to attend today's scheduled committee meeting.

The agenda for today's meeting included addressing a petition filed at the parliament, appealing to not annul the announced list of recipients allocated flats under the former administration's 'Gedhoruveriya' housing scheme, by meeting with senior officials of the Ministry.

Gadhdhoo MP and Chairperson of the Petition Committee, Mohamed Ali, stated at the opening of the meeting that officials from the Ministry had notified the committee of their inability to participate at 11:00 a.m. this morning, the time the meeting was scheduled to begin.

Therefore, the Chairperson had proposed to reschedule the committee meeting to another date.

In response, the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) MP for the Velidhoo Constituency said that the Housing Ministry's failure to present themselves at the committee despite due notice is unacceptable.

"Notifying their inability to attend the meeting when the committee is set to begin is very disrespectful," he said.

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Hussain Ziyadh, representing Vaikaradhoo constituency also agreed that notifying of their absence at the very last minute despite there being a notice is highly unacceptable, particularly when they were informed five days earlier in compliance with committee regulation, after preparing the agenda at that time.

"We request the Chairperson to record the Minister's reason for absence," he said.

MPs of ruling party People's National Congress (PNC), also expressed disapproval over the Ministry's failure to attend the meeting today.

Given that this is an important and sensitive matter concerning the people, the Ministry's failure to attend the meeting, regardless of their excuse, is difficult to accept, said MP for the Dhidhdhoo Constituency, Abdul Latheef Mohamed.

"These meetings are planned and scheduled in a way that respects both our time and theirs (the Ministry's). Accordingly, a letter was sent to the Ministry well in advance," he said.

"I believe the Ministry and the Minister must also act in accordance with regulations to ensure proper procedure. Otherwise, our disappointment and discontentment will persist," he said.

Although the Petition Committee consists of a majority of PNC members, Latheef said that the Ministry conducting itself in such an irresponsible manner cannot be accepted. He further assured that this issue will be taken seriously.

Chairperson of the Committee, Mohamed Ali, stated that the Ministry was requested to appear before the committee on July 9. He added that, according to a letter from the Ministry, Parliament was assured that Housing Minister Ali Haidar would attend.

"According to the information I just received, there is a cabinet meeting today. The time was estimated to conclude around 11:00 hrs. However, the cabinet meeting did not finish on time, and as a result, the Housing Minister was unable to attend. Nevertheless, I believe that even if the Minister couldn't attend, at least the three people from the Minister's team should have attended," he said.

The Petition Committee meeting scheduled for today concluded with a decision to summon senior officials of the Housing Ministry at the earliest possible date, without specifying a particular day.

The Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC) suspended flat allocations after Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration released a final list of flat allottees two days before the end of their term. Following a lengthy two-month investigation, ACC found that sixty percent of the 4,000 flat recipients did not meet the eligibility criteria. The current administration has established a committee to review the flat list, and revision and assessments are currently underway.