Parliament member for Dhidhdhoo constituency, Abdul Latheef Mohamed, has stated that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ended the long-standing practice of linking development projects to elections.

Speaking on MMTV’s Bodu Khabaru programme, Latheef said previous administrations often initiated infrastructure projects shortly before elections, creating the impression that progress was tied to campaign cycles. He claimed that, in some cases, heavy equipment was sent to islands alongside ballot boxes to suggest development activity.

Latheef stated that President Dr Muizzu has taken a more transparent approach by publicly sharing a record of all campaign pledges, enabling citizens to track implementation.

According to Latheef, contracts are now awarded only after proper administrative processes are completed, regardless of the political calendar. He said the Administration is focused on fulfilling its commitments throughout the term, not just during election periods.

He added that President Dr Muizzu does not rely on last-minute pledges—such as promising water supply or harbour works—but instead initiates such projects in line with earlier commitments.

As an example of past practices, Latheef referred to the 2022 by-election in Shaviyani Komandoo, where he said a significant amount of public funds was spent on campaign-related development promises. He noted that the then-President pledged to connect the two Komandoo islands as part of the campaign, resulting in several hundred million rufiyaa being spent to secure a single parliamentary seat.

He also commented on the previous administration, saying several large-scale projects were left incomplete due to implementation challenges and funding issues, which he said had stalled progress and weakened public confidence.

Latheef reiterated the current Government’s focus on continuity and accountability, and its efforts to restore economic and infrastructure stability across the country.