Former Islamic Minister Dr Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari has claimed that the Saudi government's assistance to construct additional mosques in the Maldives had been secured by the former government. Dr Majeed added that the Saudi government had pledged approximately USD25 million for the construction of 11 mosques in the Maldives.
However, following the economic recession the Saudi government had been informed that the designated amount would not suffice the construction of 11 mosques, he said.
“The Maldivian Embassy in Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Embassy in Sri Lanka had informed that the aid for the mosques had been arranged but the government had changed after the signing of the MOU had been set for this February,†Dr Majeed detailed.
He further claimed that the documentation including the designation of land plots in the islets for the mosques, acceptance of the aid by the Maldivian government and the MOU had been received during his tenure as the Islamic Minister.
In addition to the mosques, discussions with former Governor of Riyadh and now Defence Minister Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziza in 2010 had entailed the construction of a mosque in Kulhudhuhfushi, Islamic Centres in Laamu Atoll and Addu City, school in Fuvahmulah and a Quran Centre under the assistance of the Saudi Government, Dr Majeed claimed.
He further noted that former Islamic State Minister and present Islamic Minister Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed had undertaken major efforts to secure the aid for the mosques.
Sheikh Shaheem had claimed during the recent visit to Sri Lanka that he had held discussions with various Ambassadors of Islamic nations based in Colombo accredited to the Maldives including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
He had further said that the MoU with the Saudi government would be signed in the near future to construct additional mosques in the Maldives.
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