President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated in Ha. Hoarafushi last night that anything not prohibited by the Constitution or law can be done, and that acting outside the Constitution is not a right granted to any Maldivian citizen. Speaking at a meeting with the people of Hoarafushi during his current trip to Ha. Atoll, President Dr. Muizzu said that this government will fully provide all the rights guaranteed by the Constitution to all Maldivian citizens.

“Every citizen has the right to do anything not prohibited by the Constitution or law. Along with that, I want to say that acting outside the Constitution, outside the law, is not a right any of us have,” the President said. The President stated that establishing unity and solidarity among Maldivians is an individual responsibility. He also said that the government will not allow actions outside the Constitution.

“Trying to disrupt the country’s stability beyond that, obstructing our development, hindering our future, is not a right anyone has. So in moving forward with this, I will fulfill my responsibility,” President Dr. Muizzu said, at a time when the largest opposition party, MDP, is planning to hold a gathering against the government next Friday night.

“The resolve should be to unite in matters of development”

President Dr. Muizzu said that Maldivians’ resolve should be to unite in matters of development. He said that every development that comes to any island in the Maldives should be considered a joy and pride for oneself. The President also said that everyone needs to be a “national” person who loves the country and prioritizes the nation.

“When we unite with that national love, that’s when our country will truly progress in the real sense. We will achieve complete success when that stability, that unity is established among us,” the President said. President Dr. Muizzu said that while Maldivians’ thinking and mindset need to develop, we need to unite as one in developing the country. He also said that political differences and other disagreements should come after development.

“If we really think about it, every progress our country makes is also progress for oneself, every person can accept that. You should accept that. So why not decide to move forward as one unit in that way?” the President said.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has decided that starting this year, the National Quran Recitation Competition will be listed directly in the state budget and funded from it. While the National Quran Recitation Competition is the largest and most participated Quran competition in the Maldives, with significant participation from the islands, it has been held until now with substantial expenses covered by donations from various affluent parties.

However, the President has previously stated that this competition is prestigious and that the government will give it high priority. At the most recent National Quran Recitation Competition, which he graced, the President said that from 2025 onwards, this competition will offer the biggest prizes and the most awards. Along with this goal, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, announced tonight that the President has decided to make this competition directly listed in the state budget and funded from it starting this year.

The first meeting of the Maldives-India High-Level Core Group saw extensive discussions on strengthening relations between the two countries.

According to information provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this meeting held today at the ministry was the first meeting to discuss the implementation of the matters included in the ‘A Vision for Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership’, which was formulated following the meeting between President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the President’s inaugural visit to India last October.

The ministry also stated that the meeting discussed ways to further strengthen relations between the two countries and enhance cooperation in various fields. This included discussions on strengthening ties in areas such as economy, health, digital financing, and maritime security. The second meeting of the High-Level Core Group is scheduled to be held in India in April this year.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said today that the practical work on the project to build the Fisheries Complex in Ha. Ihavandhoo, which is set to cost 416 million rufiyaa, is scheduled to begin next month.

Speaking at a meeting with the people of Ihavandhoo during his current trip to Ha. Atoll, the President said that Ihavandhoo is an important island in the fishing industry. He said that he had promised to do things in Ihavandhoo as well to develop the fishing industry in the Maldives.

The President said that after completing the administrative and technical work of the Ihavandhoo Fisheries Complex, the practical work will begin in May. According to the President, this project includes various components. These include a 1,000-ton cold storage facility, a 50-ton brine freezing facility, an office building, a powerhouse, a vehicle workshop, a warehouse, a 130-meter long jetty, and a 3.5-meter deep harbor. This harbor is being developed with a jetty where fish can be weighed at three points. The total cost of this complex, according to the President, is 416 million rufiyaa.

The President said this is a project being carried out with the assistance of the Islamic Development Bank. While the cost of the harbor to be developed on the island amounts to 58 million rufiyaa, the President said that a total of 474 million rufiyaa will be spent on the entire project. “A total of 474 million rufiyaa, God willing, we will spend for your progress and development under this project,” the President said.

President Dr. Muizzu said that it will take 18 months to complete everything included in this project. However, he also said that some things will be completed and ready for use sooner than that. The President said that 150 jobs will be created upon completion of this project.

“With the progress of the fishing industry, employment is also increasing,” the President said. In addition to building the Ihavandhoo Fisheries Complex, the Road Development Corporation (RDC) has been tasked with constructing the football ground and the new hospital on the island. The President assured in his speech that these projects would also be completed.

Important promises made by the President:

– Establishing a sports complex
– Building an Islamic center
– Carrying out the second phase of the road development project
– Establishing dialysis services in February
– Starting WAMCO services
– Building 200 housing units
– Designating a special area for fiberglass work

President Dr. Muizzu said that he had promised to reclaim Dhigufaru from the Ihavandhoo lagoon and make it an industrial work area. However, the President said that not much work has been done regarding this. In addition, as there has been a request to include an island within the jurisdiction of Ihavandhoo, the President said that a decision will be made regarding this as well.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that he believes the relationship between the Maldives and China will further strengthen with the beginning of the Chinese New Year. In a post on X, the President extended New Year greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the people of China on the occasion of the Chinese New Year. The President wished for progress, good health, and happiness for the Chinese people with the new year.

“I value the close friendship with China. The two countries have established a strong partnership based on trust and respect,” the President said. He stated that he believes the relationship between the two countries will further strengthen with the new year.

During the previous MDP government, the relationship between the Maldives and China had significantly deteriorated. However, since President Muizzu came to power, he has strengthened the Maldives’ relationship with China. As part of this, he visited China last year. During that trip, he held discussions with the country on working together in various sectors.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated tonight that political ideology is not important and that development is not a political matter. Meeting with the residents of Dhidhdhoo during his trip to H.A. Atoll, the President said that all citizens are equal before him and that a person’s political ideology is not important.

The President said that development should be sought even if opinions differ, and that development is not a political matter.

“Development brought to the country or an island is not a political matter. It is serious work planned for our future and the future of our children’s children. All citizens supporting this is something they do for themselves as well,” the President said. The President made these remarks in an apparent reference to opposition protests during his visit to Dhidhdhoo.

In his speech tonight, the President assured that he would fulfill the promises he made for the development of Dhidhdhoo. Regarding the biggest promise made to the island, the airport construction, he said that work would begin this year. He also said that his next visit to Dhidhdhoo would be to that airport. During this trip, the President will inaugurate the construction of new police stations and council buildings in some islands, as well as cold storage facility projects. The service of issuing ID cards and passports is also set to begin, with ID card printing having started in Dhidhdhoo tonight.

Some ministers and heads of government institutions are accompanying the President on this trip. The President’s trip will include visits to Hoarafushi, Ihavandhoo, Marandhoo, Molhadhoo, Thakandhoo, and Uligamu over the next two days.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated tonight that waste management services will be operational in all islands of the Maldives by the end of this year. Speaking at a meeting with the residents of H.A. Dhidhdhoo during his trip to 10 islands in H.A. Atoll today, President Dr. Muizzu said that waste management is a basic necessity that should be implemented in all islands.

The President mentioned that WAMCO’s office has been established in Dhidhdhoo and staff have also been hired to start the service. He said he had instructed WAMCO’s Managing Director Mujtaba Jaleel and Finance Minister Moosa Zameer to arrange everything necessary to start WAMCO’s service in Dhidhdhoo before the upcoming Ramadan month begins. “Both of them assured me of this. So, as you can see, there’s very little time left. They are saying that WAMCO’s service will start even before Ramadan month begins. So, I expect it to start by February at the latest,” the President said.

President Dr. Muizzu stated that this year’s budget includes provisions for waste management in all islands of the Maldives by the end of this year. He mentioned that different sizes of centers will be established in various islands. “The (center) will be smaller in islands with a population of less than 500. So, waste management services will be initiated in all islands of the Maldives by the end of this year,” the President said.

According to the President, WAMCO’s services will be established in cities, atoll capitals, and islands designated under WAMCO’s business plan.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the practical work on developing the airport in H.A. Dhidhdhoo will begin this year, and his next visit to the island will be on a plane landing at the airport to inaugurate it. Reclaiming land and developing an airport in Dhidhdhoo is one of President Dr. Muizzu’s campaign pledges. In line with this pledge, the development of Dhidhdhoo Airport was handed over to MTCC last year. Under this project, land will be reclaimed for the Dhidhdhoo Airport development, and the beach area will be protected.

During his ongoing trip to H.A. Atoll islands, President Dr. Muizzu visited Dhidhdhoo and met with the island’s residents. Speaking at the meeting, the President assured that fulfilling the promises made for the island’s development is his guarantee.

“I will fully fulfill every promise I made, God willing. First of all, I will mention the airport. The airport work is very important for the development of this island, and it’s also an important project in the medium and long-term development of this atoll, as well as in our regional development plan,” said the President regarding Dhidhdhoo, which is included in the urban centers designated by this government. The President also stated that building an airport on this island is necessary for regional development thinking, and it will be done.

The President said that many of the works have been arranged to begin now. He mentioned that some work has been assigned to MTCC, and a framework agreement has been signed with a foreign party, with many works already underway. The President stated that the Dhidhdhoo Airport work will begin this year along with land reclamation.

“Once the land reclamation is completed, we will start the shore protection, runway work, and airport building construction at a fast pace and complete it. Then, God willing, I will come to this island on a plane landing at that airport to inaugurate it,” said the President.

He also mentioned that he believes even those who are politically opposed to him will be among those who will buy tickets to travel from that airport.

“Development is brought equally for everyone. Political ideology is not important to me; all citizens are equal. So, the development that comes to this island should be equally available to those who differ from me politically. They should get it, they will get it,” the President said, stating that the development brought to the country and the island is not a political matter. He said it is serious work planned for the long-term future of children and grandchildren.

“All citizens supporting this is something they do for themselves. The mindset of those who see this as a political matter is, I think, not the right mindset for anyone who thinks about it from afar. What I’m doing is very serious work to do something important for the island’s residents and the country’s citizens,” the President has said.

President’s pledges for Dhidhdhoo:
1. Building a running track
2. Area for boat and dhoni work
3. Completing the harbor entrance issue along with the harbor
4. International standard football ground (will start this year)
5. New hospital building
6. 200 housing units

The foundation for the new Ha. Muraidhoo Council building has been laid. In a special ceremony held this morning in the island to lay the foundation of the Muraidhoo Council office, the foundation was laid by the Minister of State for Cities and Administrative Areas and Public Works, Adam Shareef Umar. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu participated in the ceremony, which was also attended by ministers from some state ministries, Member of Parliament for Baarah Constituency Ibrahim Shujau, members of Muraidhoo Council, members of the Women’s Development Committee, heads of institutions from the island, and a large number of general public.

The construction of new buildings for all 55 council offices, including this one, which are being built under the contractor finance method, is being carried out by a Malaysian company called “Hextar Global”. This project to construct new council office buildings, which President Muizzu has given special priority to empower councils under the decentralization system, will provide additional ease in running these councils and increase the services provided to the island’s residents.