Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr. Abdulla Muththalib has rejected claims of political interference in the Gedhoruveriyaa housing scheme. He confirmed there is no political motive behind the delay in signing agreements with some flat recipients.
Delay Aims to Protect Recipients’ Rights
The minister explained that the delay aims to protect the rights of genuine applicants. Authorities flagged irregularities in the recipient list once officials began processing it. As a result, the government paused certain agreements to address those issues before moving forward.
Dr. Muththalib confirmed that the government has not drawn up a new list of 4,000 recipients. Instead, flat allocations follow the final list issued on November 15, 2023, in line with the Attorney General’s recommendation.
Irregularities in the Original Allocation
The minister highlighted clear scoring discrepancies in the previous allocation process. Applicants who scored 76 points or above should have received flats automatically. Furthermore, those with 75 points should have entered a draw.
However, the previous administration excluded 325 applicants who scored 76 points. At the same time, it awarded flats to 315 applicants who scored only 75. This mismatch sits at the centre of the current review.
Why the Government Has Not Redrawn the List
The minister also explained the decision against creating a new list. Drafting a fresh list would delay handovers for people waiting to move into completed flats. Therefore, the government has chosen to keep the existing list intact and act only where evidence shows ineligibility.
Authorities will take action against applicants proven ineligible. The remaining recipients will still receive their flats as planned.
A One-Page Agreement Before the Handover
Dr. Muththalib pointed to a key detail from the transition period. The previous government signed a one-page agreement just two days before leaving office. At that point, construction of the flats stood at only 30% completion.
The minister’s remarks signal the government’s intent to balance speed with accountability as it works through one of the country’s most closely watched housing programmes.