Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Dr Abdulla Muththalib has stated that the Malé City Council, under Mayor Adam Azim, has not provided the necessary cooperation, with several of its responsibilities now being carried out by the Ministry.

The minister made the remarks while speaking to MMTV during a door-to-door campaign activity conducted by the People’s National Congress (PNC) ahead of the upcoming Council Elections. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu also participated in the campaign in his capacity as party leader.

Dr Muththalib said a number of issues affecting the daily lives of Malé residents fall within the mandate of the City Council. However, he stated that these matters have not been given adequate priority by the current Mayor, resulting in the Ministry intervening to address challenges faced by the public.

Referring to flooding in Malé City, Dr Muththalib said the issue falls within the council’s responsibilities, but action has not been taken at the required level. He noted that the Government has therefore been working to resolve the problem.

He further stated that the cleaning of drainage systems along Malé’s roads is also being undertaken by the Government. In addition, he said that for the development of Boduthakurufaanu Magu, the council did not provide the level of cooperation required to facilitate the works.

The Minister explained that pavement works in certain areas were delayed as market stalls had not been cleared, which obstructed the progress of the project.

Dr Muththalib emphasised that cooperation from the City Council is essential for the effective implementation of initiatives aimed at benefiting residents. He added that electing a Malé City Council aligned with PNC would help accelerate the city’s development.