The government's proposed amendments to the Decentralization Act, according to Fayyaz Ismail, Chairman of the largest opposition party, the Maldives Democratic Party (MDP), will strip councils of their financial autonomy, leading to the collapse of the decentralization system and their subjugation to the central government. 
ލާމަރުކަޒީ ގާނޫނު ބަދަލު ކުރުމަށް ސަރުކާރުން ހުށަހަޅާފައިވާ ބިލަކީ ރައްޔިތުންގެ އަތުގައި އޮތް ބާރުވެރިކަން ފޭރިގަނެ، ރަށްރަށުގެ ހުރިހާ ކަމެއް ނިންމުމުގެ ބާރު މައި ސަރުކާރަށް ނެގުމަށް ހުށަހަޅާފައިވާ ބިލެއް. . ކައުންސިލްތަކަށް ވިޔަފާރި ކުރެވޭނެ ދާއިރާތަކާއި، އާމްދަނީ ހޯދާނެ ގޮތް… pic.twitter.com/OPf5D1FyNo
— Fayyaz Ismail (@faya_i) August 3, 2025
This statement was made by MDP on Sunday.
The government has put forth five amendments to the Decentralization Act.
Among these amendments is a provision that will restrict the powers of councils to recruit employees, lease lagoons and land under their jurisdiction, and implement development projects.
In a social media post regarding the amendments, Fayyaz asserted that the government's proposed bill to alter the Decentralization Act is an attempt to divest the populace of their power, enabling the central government to unilaterally determine all matters in rural areas. He further argued that the central government should not dictate the commercial activities of councils or their revenue generation methods.
Specifically, Fayyaz emphasized that councils require financial independence to make decisions without governmental reliance, adding that the current bill would dismantle decentralization and render councils subservient to the central government.
Fayyaz has urged all councilors in rural councils to actively oppose these attempts by the central government to diminish the power of the people.
The fundamental objective of decentralization is to ensure the democratic governance of islands, atolls, and cities, he stated, referencing an old Dhivehi proverb that metaphorically describes controlled island councils as puppets.
ލާމަރުކަޒީ ނިޒާމު އެމްޑީޕީން ވުޖޫދުކުރީ ޚިދުމަތްތައް ފޯރުކޮށްދިނުމުގެ ނަމުގައި މައިސަރުކާރުތަކުން ޒަމާނުއްސުރެ,ރައްޔިތުން އަޅުވެތިކުރަމުން އައި އައުން ނިމުމަކަށް ގެނައުމަށް. ރައްޔިތުންގެ މާލީ ފުދުންތެރިކަމާއި, ޚިދުމަތްތަކާއި ވަސީލަތްތައް މަރުކަޒުކޮށް, ރައްޔިތުންގެ މައްޗަށް…
— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) August 3, 2025
Abdullah Shahid, the MDP President, stated that the decentralization system was implemented to end the enslavement of the populace by central governments under the guise of service provision. He contended that the nation's leaders should not possess the opportunity to wield undue power and influence over the citizenry.
However, he asserted that the amendment to the Decentralization Act proposed by the current government is designed to re-centralize the financial and natural resources of the councils and, in effect, subjugate the populace. He prognosticated that the amendment would deprive councils of their historical financial independence and significantly impede the decentralization system.
Shahid has called upon all regions of the country to express opposition to the amendment and encouraged councils to vocalize their dissent.
Mayor Ali Nizar commented that the amendments, proposed in direct consultation with President Dr. Mohammed Muizzu, would effectively enslave the residents of the atolls and compel them to solicit governmental assistance.
He clarified that the intention was evident, and President Muizzu was identified as one of the few leaders who opposed the development of the atolls and endorsed the policy of urban congestion. He highlighted that the government has not allocated any funds for the development of Addu in the past two years.
On Sunday, the MDP issued a statement expressing its disapproval of the amendments to the Decentralization Act. The statement urged councilors and residents to oppose the proposed changes.
He accused the PNC government of leveraging all state powers to "destroy" councils in anticipation of the upcoming council elections. The MDP condemned this action, characterizing it as an attempt by the government to influence the council elections.
The MDP has consistently opposed the government's amendments to the Decentralization Act. Furthermore, the party characterizes the government's actions as an attempt to undermine the decentralization system that the party established during its tenure in power.