Azim: Town hall rented to MDP under regulations

The town hall was allocated to the opposition MDP for its congress after the party paid the council in accordance with existing regulations, Male' City Mayor Adam Azim said Sunday.

The MDP congress was held at the Male' City Council Hall from Thursday to Saturday due to the lack of an available venue.

LGA CEO Mohamed Nimal had sent a letter to city mayors and island council presidents on the opening day of the congress, stating that promoting political party ideologies on council office premises or land registered under councils is against the principles of the Decentralization Act and constitutes a violation.

Nimal’s letter instructed councils not to use their properties or resources to promote political parties or benefit specific groups, and not to conduct political activities on council-owned land.

Responding to the letter, Azim said locations such as Sultan Park, Lonuziyaarai Park and Artificial Beach are already rented out for various ceremonies and events. He noted that Artificial Beach is frequently rented for political rallies.

“So last night’s congress was held here [in the town hall] and it was not given to MDP for free, but at a commercial rate,” he said.

Azim added that the MDP is a large party funded through the state budget allocated to political parties, and therefore renting the town hall to the MDP is no different from renting it to a public company or a ministry. He also assured that the council would not allocate land unfairly.

In his letter, Nimal reiterated that council assets and resources must be used solely to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to councils. He wrote that council offices are important service points for the public, and political activities in such spaces could create unrest.

The opposition MDP had requested a venue for its congress, but government authorities did not provide one. In contrast, the ruling PNC was allocated a youth centre and three schools for its congress, a move the MDP has criticised.

The opposition MDP holds a clear majority in the current term.