Yameen Vows to Scrap Rasmalé Deal with Eagel Hills If Elected

Former President Abdulla Yameen said tonight that if a portion of Rasmalé is given to UAE-based Eagel Hills, any future government will not annul that agreement or make any changes to it. Speaking at a rally held by the national movement "Dhivehinna Dhivehinge Bin" (the land of Maldivians for Maldivians), Yameen said that whichever future government comes to power — whether it is his own government or an MDP government — the agreement made with Eagel Hills will not be annulled or changed, and that the agreement is not one that conforms to the laws of the Maldives. "With God's grace, what I believe is that whether it is my government or an MDP government, if another party other than the current government succeeds in the next election, there is no doubt at all," Yameen said. "Listen, Al-Abbar. Listen, Zionists. Even if this land has been given to them, it will be brought back. No compensation will be given either. This is not land given in accordance with the laws of the Maldives." Yameen said that in the next government that comes to power, the Rasmalé deal will be brought to an end, everyone who participated in it will be investigated, and after all of them are brought before the courts, they will also be punished. "While the next party comes and changes this, all of these are people who will be brought before the courts. These are people who will face criminal investigation. These are people who will receive criminal punishment," Yameen said. Noting that a vote of confidence needs to be taken among the people in connection with the Rasmalé deal, Yameen said that not doing so is not an option available to President Muizzu. As preparations are underway to hold a large gathering tomorrow night at 20:30 against the selling of Rasmalé, the government is continuing work at high speed to give 500 hectares of land from Rasmalé to Eagel Hills company. The commercial terms for selling the 500 hectares of Rasmalé being reclaimed and built at state expense from Fushidhiggaru Falhu to Eagel Hills were signed on September 21. The government has not disclosed that the signing of the permanent agreement for that project has been halted. Voices that the permanent agreement will be signed this November have been spread.