Speculations that the government intends to sell the entirety of Faafu atoll to Saudi Arabia has truth to it, and the entire plan consists of many secrets, opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said.

In a press statement condemning the postulated sale, MDP said that government silence and ‘dealings in the dark’ are indicative of this.

The statement further said that the government’s actions are thus wantonly detrimental to the livelihoods of the atoll’s residents, and that such a plan should immediately be axed.

The party had also added that, if elected to office again, it would backtrack on such ‘tyrannical’ plans.

In a trip to Magoodhoo island of the atoll in January, President Abdulla Yameen had told residents that the government had an ‘immense’ project in store for the atoll, a plan already underway as many of preparations had reportedly been made, and revealed that the Saudi kingdom had expressed particular interest for these islands.

However, the government is yet to officially confirm this.

Transparency Maldives had last week called on the government to divulge said plans.