The Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure has responded to allegations made by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) regarding the Gedhoruviyaa housing scheme, stating that the process was conducted fairly and in accordance with established regulations.

The Ministry clarified that the housing list announced on January 27, 2025, was issued after a thorough investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into the list previously published in the Government Gazette on November 15, 2023.

The Ministry also affirmed that no new rules were introduced for the allocation of flats and that the evaluation was conducted based on guidelines set by the previous administration. Additionally, the Ministry emphasised that no allocated flats had been reassigned to other recipients and that the process ensured equal access to housing opportunities for all eligible applicants.

According to the Ministry, applications were reviewed under a point-based system. Those who applied for three-bedroom flats and received 75 points and those who applied for two-bedroom flats and received 73 points were considered. A draw was conducted among three-bedroom flat applicants who met the 75-point threshold, as announced in November 2023. The Ministry assured that the verification process was carried out fairly and that no applicant scoring below 75 points was considered for the three-bedroom flats.

Regarding residency requirements, the Ministry clarified that applicants who have lived in Malé for more than 15 years were not disqualified. For those who resided in Malé for less than 15 years, their residency history was verified according to guidelines set by the previous government. Any changes in an applicant's points resulted from discrepancies in the information provided, and individuals can review these updates on the Gedhoruverin Portal.

The verification process took into account employment history, education records, pension information, and proof of residence in Malé. The Ministry reiterated that no new documents were accepted beyond the officially mandated requirements and that the committee’s guidelines remained unchanged. Official documents verifying interruptions in residency were reviewed if deemed relevant to an applicant’s eligibility.

Responding to concerns about document verification, the Ministry clarified that the documents reviewed were those issued by island councils rather than the Malé City Council. It refuted claims that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, during his tenure as Malé City Mayor, issued such documents, stating that these allegations were factually incorrect.

The Ministry also assured that applicants whose forms were incorrectly assessed during the verification process would have the opportunity to correct any errors. Any unallocated flats after this period will be awarded to the highest-scoring applicants following a final verification process. The Ministry confirmed that the information submitted during the application process would not change, and no additional documents would be accepted.

Additionally, the Ministry clarified that it is not Government policy to allocate multiple flats to couples under the same scheme, and also confirmed that the latest housing list does not include any new applicants beyond those originally listed on November 15, 2023.

Assuring that those who were not awarded flats under the 4,000-unit scheme will still have access to housing, the Ministry reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to addressing housing challenges during this Administration’s term.