Male’ City Council has refuted Housing Minister Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s claim that that the council was negligent in maintaining the social housing units in Male’ and Villimale’.

Speaking in a press conference on Monday, Mayor Shifa Mohamed said that Minister Muizzu had pinned the blame on the council to mislead residents of the flats, and that if it was in the council’s power, it would impeach the Housing Minister.

Shifa said that they will not let the condition of flats worsen, and that they will maintain the flats with their own salary if the budget is not sufficient. She further said that the state does not provide an adequate budget for renovations and maintenance of the flats, and that the housing and finance ministries have ignored the council's request for funds.

The mayor said that the council has requested the housing ministry to conduct a survey on the condition of the flats. Following this, and has also requested finance ministry to fund a survey own its own, to which the ministries are yet to respond.

Shifa also denied demanding flat residents to pay their rent on time.

Also speaking at the press conference, Deputy Mayor Shamau Shareef responded to Minister Muizzu’s announcement that opportunities to register in the Male’ registry has again been opened to residents of Male’ and outlying atolls. Shamau said that the registry is not something new and had not been halted either. He said that the registry has been around for a long time and so must not be renewed.

Shamau also claimed that announcing the opportunity to register in Male' while nearing the elections is a 'ploy' leading to many losing their right to vote.

Responding Minister Muizzu's claim that the council had been slow with renovating the flats, Central-Henveiru MP Ahmed Niyaz said that the council was handed over the flats without receiving any power to do anything.

Niyaz said that “Senahiyaa” flats 1, 2 and 3 have been renovated and painted while Male’ Hiyaa flats are currently being renovated, despite not receiving adequate funds.

The councilor said that while they had sent quotations for a new elevator to replace the non-functioning one in Sinamale flats 1 and 2 only to be rejected.

Moreover, Niyaz said that they have handled the responsibility of waste management in the flats well.