The Maldives Airports Company Ltd partnered with the Maldives National University to develop a hotel school and a five-star resort in Laamu Hulhimendhoo. The agreement was signed during President Muizzu's visit to Maamendhoo. Continuing his tour of Laamu atoll, Muizzu pledged budget allocation for Mundoo’s harbour development and a road development initiative following the resolution of sewerage network issues. He also announced plans to upgrade the Maabaidhoo health centre to provide 24-hour services starting next year.
MPs debated amendments proposed by the government to the special economic zones law of 2014. The changes would allow the development of sustainable townships with renewable energy and self-sufficient infrastructure with a minimum investment US$ 500 million. The bill is intended to enable foreign ownership of land under a mega resort project in Noonu atoll where 11 islands have been reclaimed, opposition MP Ahmed Shamheed alleged.
The government owes MVR 10 billion (US$ 648.5 million) to the Housing Development Corporation, Deputy Speaker Nazim revealed at a public accounts committee meeting with HDC officials. Overdue payments include MVR 4.3 billion owed by government offices and state-owned enterprises, MVR 3.9 billion owed as a result of the government's decision to reduce rents for Hiya and Vinares flats, and MVR 1.7 billion owed for plots of land awarded under the previous government's Binveriya scheme.
Parliament approved three members to the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission. The three appointees on the new seven-member regulator will be former Broadcasting Commission members Sofa Shafeeq and Aminath Sarahath Izzath and former Media Council secretary general Mohamed Farsath, all of whom were confirmed with 54 votes in favour and nine votes against.
Police summoned three MDP activists, including national council member Fathimath Zahiyya and youth wing members Mohamed Hamaid Abdul Ghanee and Ali Muawwaz for questioning in connection to the October 3 protest in Malé. The three are accused of unlawful assembly, disruption of traffic and businesses, and disobeying police orders.
A video of former MP Mohamed Shaheem shooting a caged shark with a speargun sparked widespread outrage on social media.
Following his release due to procedural errors by the police, suspected drug lord Ali Anwar Mohamed, 41, was arrested again and remanded for 30 days after he was denied entry to Sri Lanka.
The Statistics Bureau shared findings from a 40-year population projection that forecast the resident Maldivian population to peak by mid-century with about 428,000 people and decline by about 1,000 per year thereafter. The calculation was based on a fertility rate of 1.7 that is projected to decline further below the replacement level of two children per woman. By 2052, the Maldives will become a "super-aged population" where nearly a quarter of people will be above 65 years of age.
The MDP continued to hammer President Muizzu over the central bank's alleged purchase of MVR 2.5 billion worth of T-bills from the pension fund, which would then reinvest the money into new bonds, effectively printing money to finance government expenditure and overdue payments to private contractors. The injection of MVR 2.5 billion into circulation will devalue the Rufiyaa and fuel inflation, the opposition warned. The former finance minister predicted that the government will resort to using the Pension Office "as cover to print money" again within a few months.
The ruling party's supermajority rejected an amendment proposed by opposition MP Mohamed Ibrahim to the Pension Act that would have allowed early withdrawal of retirement savings to cover treatment costs for chronic illnesses. A resolution proposed by the MP for Galolhu North to address blood supply shortages was also rejected with 53 votes against and 10 in favour.
Opposition MP Meekail Naseem seized on President Muizzu's remarks about the upcoming Addu City public referendum as evidence of the government's intention to "divide and control" the southernmost atoll. Despite declaring a neutral stance, Muizzu said on Monday that Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo would be allocated an annual budget of MVR 25 million, MVR 14 million and MVR 18 million, respectively, if residents vote in favour of creating separate councils and splitting from the Addu City Council.
The Judicial Service Commission appointed Ahmed Maumoon and Mohamed Zahid as family court judges, filling the vacancy left by former chief judge Ibrahim Mahir's appointment to the High Court in September. Maumoon previously served as the family court's legal officer. Zahid worked at the Attorney General's Office and the Baa Dharavandhoo magistrate court.
