Resolution urging MDP National Council to call on govt for referendum on Rasmalé project

A resolution has been submitted to the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s National Council, calling on the government to hold a public referendum to determine public opinion on the Maldives Waterfront and Marina project in Rasmalé, awarded to UAE-based Eagle Hills and for the party to initiate direct action if the government fails to respond to its demands.

The resolution was submitted by MDP’s Kolamaafushi Constituency President Mahfooz Saeed and seconded by Kendhoo Constituency MP Mauroof Zakir. It sets out nine demands directed at the government.

Among the key demands are the public disclosure of the commercial terms agreement, which reportedly grants Eagle Hills 500 hectares of land in Rasmalé for 99 years without acquisition costs or rent. It also calls for a public referendum on the project and demands that no transactions granting rights to Eagle Hills or any third party take place until the referendum results are finalized.

The resolution further calls on the MDP to lead public awareness campaigns on the potential risks of the agreement and hold the government accountable through the Parliament. It also urges the party to coordinate direct action with other political parties and organizations if the government fails to respond.

The resolution argues that leasing reclaimed land, developed through substantial public expenditure, to a foreign company for an extended period without financial compensation amounts to a violation of the State Finance Act.

As the National Council prepares to debate the resolution, differences have emerged within the party’s leadership over its position on the project. MDP Chairperson and former President Mohamed Nasheed expressed concern in a post on X, suggesting that opposing the Eagle Hills project was misguided. Nasheed said the party appeared to be increasingly embracing xenophobic and nationalist rhetoric, which he believes runs counter to its founding principles and political identity.

Meanwhile, several members of the National Council’s WhatsApp group have argued that the MDP should maintain a firm position on the issue and actively oppose the project.

Former Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, who is seeking the MDP presidential ticket, also said that involving

development partners and friendly nations in domestic political disputes was not in the national interest. He stressed that international relations should be maintained above party politics.

The agreement between the Maldivian government and Eagle Hills, which has come under intense scrutiny from the opposition, was signed on September 21.