South Maafannu MP Abdulla Rifau has called the Binveriya housing scheme, implemented by the previous government, a scam.

Speaking on MMTV’s Bodu Khabaru programme, MP Rifau claimed that the scheme was manipulated to fraudulently allocate land to certain individuals, with the former housing minister allegedly playing a central role in the corruption.

MP Rifau pointed out that, according to the Decentralisation Act, land registration should be managed by local councils. However, he alleged that this responsibility was unlawfully transferred to the then housing minister, Akram Kamaludeen, who, according to MP Rifau, misused his position to facilitate the fraudulent registration of land.

The MP further criticised the scheme's lack of clear regulations for awarding land, which he believes created opportunities for corruption from the very beginning. MP Rifau suggested that the previous administration, under the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), had a track record of creating debt and misappropriating public funds.

He also reassured the public that the current government would bring those responsible for the alleged scam to justice, ensuring they face appropriate legal consequences.