Political stability is currently established in the Maldives with citizens no longer being sentenced for protesting, while opposition figures are attempting to distort the truth of the multi-billion-dollar Rasmalé development project for political motives, Ahmed Mahloof, the Ambassador of the Maldives to Japan, maintained.
Efforts to portray the 'Maldives Waterfront and Marina at Rasmalé' development as a national danger stem from ill-intentioned attempts to mislead the public, the ambassador cautioned during an appearance on Public Service Media’s 'Raajje Miadhu' programme. Critics suggesting the initiative should be relocated implicitly recognise its underlying validity despite failing to produce evidence supporting their assertions, he observed.
The opposition’s rhetoric, which includes linking actions taken by Muslims with Jews, is an unfortunate matter entirely devoid of truth, Ambassador Mahloof noted. The project will directly benefit ordinary citizens and generate approximately 50,000 new job opportunities alongside commercial growth, he emphasised. Resistance to the initiative is primarily driven by concerns over its potential electoral impact rather than technical merits. "This will significantly pave the way for the President [Dr Mohamed Muizzu] to secure an additional term," Ambassador Mahloof asserted.
An agreement executed on 21 September with the Abu Dhabi developer Eagle Hills will construct a USD 20 billion waterfront and marina covering 500 hectares. A USD 500 million housing project comprising 5,000 units, valued at approximately MVR 7.7 billion, will proceed as an advance. Land allocations previously promised to citizens will not be cancelled, President Muizzu assured previously.
The administration has effectively managed political volatility, creating a climate of cross-party engagement that contrasts with previous terms, the ambassador argued. Fulfilling commitments made during the inauguration, no individuals are being detained on political grounds today, he concluded, noting that opposition figures overlook past eras when hundreds of demonstrators were jailed simultaneously.