No MP influence to flat list, false allegations for political gain: Ministry

The Ministry of Housing on Tuesday said that the allegations of ruling party MPs influencing the social housing recipients list were fabrications aimed at political motives.

The ministry also added that the flats would be awarded to their deserving recipients.

While the ministry has been reviewing the recipients list, rumours have spread that members of the parliament were influencing the list to make amendments to it.

In response, the ministry on Tuesday said that the allegations of political influence into the Gedhoruveriya scheme re-evaluation was aimed at creating unrest among the people, and disturb the public confidence in the government.

The ministry gave full assurance that the re-evaluation process was not muddied with any form of coercion or influence, and affirmed the housing units will be awarded to their deserved recipients.

Housing Ministry further urged against spreading false rumours about the social housing scheme for political motivations, as the issue is of significant interest for the public.

Although the ministry on multiple occasions claimed it would release the final list, it has not been publicized officially so far which resulted in some public members barging into the premises of the ministry last week to voice their concerns.

Awarding the 4,000 housing units of Gedhoruveriya Scheme was halted on the instructions of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) which gave the order after conducting a preliminary review into the issue, and after finding there had been discrepancies in awarding the flats to recipients.

Following ACC’s probe, the list is being reviewed by a special committee of the Housing Ministry.

The former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)-led government had earlier decided on awarding housing units to more than 15,000 of the eligible recipients under the social housing scheme.