It is unacceptable that essential municipal services in Hulhumale' continue to be hijacked by a profit-making corporation: Shujau

The Member of the Male' City Council for the Hulhumale' Constituency, Ibrahim Shujau has said that it is regrettable that essential municipal services on Hulhumale' continue to be hijacked by a profit-making corporation, in a clear violation of local governance laws. Shujau made the remark at yesterday's press conference to coincide with the first anniversary of the current 4th term of the Male' City Council.

"While strengthening decentralised governance happens to be President Solih's main campaign pledge to the people, it is ironic that he refuses to devolve the municipal service mandate for Hulhumale' to the elected Male' City Council, as stipulated by the law", the Council Member for Hulhumale' pointed out.

Elaborating on the indifference of HDC to the needs of Hulhumale' residents, Shujau said that the state of some public housing units in Hulhumale' was alarming, with some residents complaining of leaky ceilings. "HDC has turned a blind eye to such concerns as it would not generate profits for them", he said.

"Residents was the Male' City Council to take over from HDC. They have failed miserably in serving the people. We have requested repeatedly for municipal services to be devolved to us. We have also submitted a 2000-strong petition to the President seeking this, but no action has been forthcoming."