Deputy Mayor Mohamed Areesh has rejected allegations that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu engaged in irregular land sales or leases during his two years and six months as Mayor of Male' City.
Areesh, who was elected on an MDP ticket before joining the PNC, said in a post on X on Sunday that the President’s mayoral tenure focused on improving the city rather than misusing land.
“He did not sell or lease a single plot of land irregularly. Not a single land transaction was carried out unlawfully,” Areesh wrote, adding that Muizzu’s term “improved municipal services, greened and cleaned the city, revived religious and social spirit, increased direct engagement with residents, and ensured weekly house visits to address public concerns.”
މާލެ ސިޓީގެ މޭޔަރުކަމުގައި، ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ ޑރ. މުޙައްމަދު މުޢިއްޒު ހުންނެވި 2 އަހަރާއި 6 މަހެއްހައި ދުވަހުގެ ތެރޭގައި، މާލެ ސިޓީގެ އެއްވެސް ބިމެއް ބަޔަކަށް ވިއްކަވާފައެއް ނުވޭ. އަދި ނުގަވާއިދުން ކުއްޔަށްދެއްވި އެއްވެސް ބިމެއްވެސް ނެތް. އެމަނިކުފާނުގެ މޭޔަރުކަމުގެ މުއްދަތަކީ…
— Mohamed Areesh (@attuareesh) January 11, 2026
In what appeared to be a response to claims made during the opposition MDP’s mayoral primary campaign, Areesh accused the party of spreading false statements.
He said councils exist to deliver municipal services in partnership with the government and to drive development. “If you want to win the city, talk about the positive changes in services,” he wrote, urging candidates to focus on “plans for housing and living amenities, and how the city intends to work closely with residents through consultation and feedback.”
Mohamed Areesh (L), the new deputy mayor of Male' City, poses with Adam Azim, the mayor. (Photo/Male' City Council)
Despite Areesh’s defence, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) previously investigated alleged irregularities in the draw for parking zone allocations. Following the concerns, the Local Government Authority (LGA) and the Ministry of Transport suspended the sale of 1,000 parking slots to private individuals to ensure compliance with legal procedures.
Speaking after inaugurating the new PNC office building, President Muizzu said councils form a separate layer of government and are not institutions meant to hold the government accountable.
“Councils are not legally tasked with holding the government accountable. If you campaign to elect councillors for that purpose, it sends the wrong signal,” he said. Electing councillors with that intention, he added, would halt development work and turn councils into political platforms.
His remarks come as the PNC-controlled Male' City Council lost quorum for a month amid controversy over the lease of high‑value land. The council has 18 members, with a quorum of 10. The PNC holds a clear majority with 14 councillors.