The Male' City Council is embroiled in controversy surrounding the Male' Fish Market construction project, with allegations of improper documentation and inflated costs surfacing. The issue has been a recurring point of contention, with two council meetings intended to address the matter being canceled due to a lack of quorum.
Male' City Mayor Adam Azim has stated that the fish market construction project was awarded a second time without proper documentation. Attempts to question Ali Naseer Qasim, head of the council's legal section, regarding the matter have been stymied by insufficient attendance at council meetings.
The project was initially commissioned during President Muizzu's tenure as Male' City Mayor. The council had announced bids, evaluated them, and awarded the work, resulting in a USD 6.1 million deal.
However, before the mayoral seat became vacant on November 17, 2023, and Azim assumed the role, the initial agreement was canceled. A new agreement was then signed with a different company, with Naseer signing on behalf of the council. This new agreement reportedly added USD 3.5 million to the project cost, bringing the total to USD 9.5 million.
Fish Market in Male' City. (Sun Photo)
During a council meeting on August 20, Mayor Azim expressed that Naseer had not provided an explanation for the new agreement or the USD 3.5 million price increase.
Galolhu North councilor Mohamed Saif Fathih echoed these concerns, stating that the new agreement had not been approved by the council. Saif has raised five specific points regarding the case:
Naseer to appear before the council on August 27.
Naseer to be suspended from his responsibilities pending an investigation.
The Mayor to present a detailed report on the agreement at the August 27 meeting.
Publication of all relevant agreements and documents.
Submission of a formal complaint to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Male' City Council's North Galolhu constituency Councilor Mohamed Saif Fathih. (Photo/Male' City Council)
Saif informed Sun on Wednesday that the session scheduled for August 27 could not be held due to a lack of quorum. He also noted that efforts to discuss the matter in Wednesday's session were similarly thwarted by insufficient attendance.
Highlighting concerns about compliance with state finance laws and regulations, Saif stated that establishing a new agreement and changing prices without proper authorization is impermissible. He warned that the current agreement would impose significant financial obligations on the city council, potentially leading to considerable hardship. Saif characterized the situation as a "criminal offense involving corruption and embezzlement committed for the purpose of obtaining an unfair advantage for certain people."
Saif confirmed that he had filed a case with the ACC last month.
Inside the local fish market in Male' City on April 12, 2021. (Sun Photo/Fayaz Moosa)
Former Deputy Mayor Ahmed Nareesh, who was temporarily in charge of the council during the period of the agreement change, emphasized that any agreement, including subsequent ones, must be finalized by the council's bid committee at an agreed-upon price. He asserted that the Secretary General of the council would not sign an agreement without such a decision, nor would a council member sign without all required documents being complete.
Nareesh dismissed Mayor Azim's claims of the fish market being leased without documentation a second time as "nonsense," expressing confidence that no council member would sign an agreement without complete documentation.