Rasmalé land deal done in secret, fears of Israeli settlement: Councillor Galib

Malé City Council's Hulhumalé South constituency councillor Ahmed Galib has said that the land agreement under the Rasmalé project was carried forward in a secret manner, known only to a small group in the government, and that there is concern the project could lead to the creation of an Israeli settlement in the Maldives. Speaking in the "Dhivehinege Bin Dhivehinnah" (Dhivehis' Land for Dhivehis) coverage brought by RajjeTV, Galib said statements against the leasing of 500 hectares of land in Rasmalé to Eagle Hills are not political talk and that the legal concept written in the Maldives has now been lost. He said the people now have no power, and that President Muizzu is running the country in the way he wants, or in the way that the "two or three or four people" who influence the President want. Galib said the Rasmalé project was first discussed to be carried forward among a very small number of people. "In the way I heard it, the affairs of this Rasmalé, the first process, went on within a very tiny circle; two or three or four gentlemen including Shamin cut this deal and went, and then by the time it reached the document that was signed, members within this government also came to know of this suddenly, a lot of people came to know; a small group, this is how it came to be known, and there are many things in this that are not being heard," he said. Noting that the government is defending the project saying it will bring great benefits to the people, Galib said that if information related to the Rasmalé project had been given to the people, or to members within the government, then the people would not question it. Galib said they do not oppose investments coming to the Maldives, and that when deciding to lease national land for a long period, it must be checked whether the consent of the people exists in that matter. He said the concern over the Rasmalé project is that an Israeli settlement could be created in the Maldives, and noted that this is not political talk.