Allegations of corruption, a lack of transparency in the beneficiary selection process, and accusations of unfair point allocations in the awarding of 4,000 new social housing units in Hulhumalé have compelled the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to intervene amid the growing turmoil.
The controversy erupted after the Ministry of National Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure (MNPHI), together with the Fahi-Dhiriulhun Corporation (FDC), publicised the final list of recipients under the Gedhoruveriya housing scheme. The list, released on Saturday, 4 November, has since become the focal point of a heated dispute. Concerned citizens and applicants gathered at the MNPHI, questioning the integrity of the evaluation process, which saw over 13,000 of the 20,000 applicants deemed eligible for housing.
Permanent Secretary Zeeniya Ahmed’s explanation—that points were awarded based on information provided in appliations—did little to quell the frustration, with numerous individuals highlighting discrepancies and alleging favouritism towards relatives of senior officials and parliament members aligned with the government.
In light of these allegations, ACC dispatched a rapid response team to the housing ministry on Monday to examine the complaints closely and to ensure the integrity of the allocation process is upheld.
The ACC’s swift action followed its directive on Sunday, urging the housing ministry to halt the signing of flat agreements, a move that underscores the seriousness of the concerns raised. The Gedhoruveriya portal remains open for submissions of complaints until 9 November, allowing the public to formally voice their grievances.
State Minister Akram Kamaluddin, caught in the eye of the storm, faced the public’s ire when he attempted to address the situation. He maintained that point allocation was based on the information supplied by each applicant, a stance that has done little to satisfy those contesting their scores. Calls to annul the current list and re-evaluate the candidates have intensified, putting pressure on the government to demonstrate transparency and fairness.
The disputed points system was a deciding factor in the distribution of two and three-bedroom flats, with thresholds set at 73 and 76 points respectively. However, the legitimacy of the point allocation and the subsequent awarding of homes has been called into question.
