News Desk
Governance in the Maldives must give full space to the powers granted to local councils under a decentralised system, presidential hopeful and MDP primary candidate Faisal Naseem has said.
Naseem made the statement while expressing deep concern over the government’s decision to take control of 14 land plots under the jurisdiction of Malé City Council, under the pretext of infrastructure development in Malé and Villimálé.
The former vice president noted that true national progress can only be achieved by empowering councils and handing over financial authority rather than narrowing their powers. Taking so many land plots at once without disclosing their detailed intended use or consulting the city council is unacceptable, Naseem said.
The Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development said it opened a 14-day window for the public to submit any complaints or feedback regarding projects planned for these sites. Opposition figures, however, continue to criticize the government, calling the decision a direct move to weaken the decentralised system.
The Malé City Council decided last night to launch legal proceedings in court against the government’s decision to seize 14 key land plots, including Artificial Beach, calling the move unlawful.
The decision was taken during an emergency meeting held last night with the participation of council members belonging to the main opposition Main Opposition MDP, which holds the council majority.
Although the Housing Ministry stated the plots were reclaimed for state ownership to expand infrastructure and public services across the Greater Malé area, the council insists the action was taken unlawfully without any prior consultation. Under amendments to the Land Act, land can only be taken for state projects after sharing information with the council and gathering public feedback, procedures the council noted were completely ignored.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Malé Mayor Adam Azim—who is designated as Faisal Naseem’s running mate—called the decision an attempt to crush the decentralised system and concentrate all authority within the central government. Taking these plots will cut off crucial municipal revenue and disrupt essential services provided to residents, Azim said.
Azim added that the action was taken to punish residents for not voting for the ruling party in the city council elections. Despite the obstacles created by the government, the mayor assured that the city council will do everything possible to ensure uninterrupted service delivery to the public.
