An urgent motion has been submitted to the People's Majlis, initiating a debate and calling for the full disclosure of all details regarding the agreement made by the Maldivian government with the UAE-based company Eagle Hills concerning the Rasmalé project.

The urgent motion was submitted to the Majlis by opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) member and South Galolhu MP, Meekail Ahmed Naseem.

Presenting the urgent motion, Meekail stated that Article 250(a) of the Constitution stipulates that any state-owned property must be given, sold, leased, released, mortgaged, destroyed, or otherwise handled, and any agreement signed in connection with such matters, must be executed in accordance with the law. Meekail also noted that the Constitution specifies that no part of the Maldivian territory can be granted in ownership to any foreign party.

Furthermore, while the Constitution guarantees freedom of information to everyone, he noted that the Commission Terms Agreement for the Maldives Waterfront and Marina Project planned for development in Rasmalé—signed between the government and Eagle Hills on September 21st—states that detailed procedures will be formulated as the project progresses, without disclosing the specific terms of the agreement. Given this situation, Meekail said that while the government claims Rasmalé is the nation's largest asset tied to its future development, there are serious concerns regarding how the government intends to proceed with the project.

Reasons highlighted by Meekail:

  • Lack of detailed disclosure regarding the agreement
  • The agreement being structured so that the costs incurred by the state in reclaiming land using public tax money will not be recovered
  • Granting an area exceeding 500 reclaimed hectares in Rasmalé to Eagle Hills for a period of 99 years
  • Structuring the agreement such that no acquisition fee or rent needs to be paid
  • Granting Eagle Hills the right to create rolling lease interests by sub-leasing properties developed on that land to third parties
  • Keeping the agreement for such a massive project confidential, which could cause immense damage to state property and finances and pave the way for corruption

In the vote taken in the Majlis to debate this urgent motion, 53 out of the 54 members present in the session voted in favor of holding the debate.