President denies bribery claims over Sinamale, Malé Hiya flat allowance
He said the decision was included in his presidential manifesto and that the issue had been raised during the election campaign.
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President Mohamed Muizzu said on Monday that the decision to waive fines and provide a MVR 100,000 allowance to residents of Sinamale and Malé Hiya flats does not amount to bribery.
The remarks were made during a press conference at the President's Office, where a journalist questioned whether providing financial assistance close to an election could be viewed as an inducement.
“It is not bribery at all,” the President said.
He said the decision was included in his presidential manifesto and that the issue had been raised during the election campaign. The President noted that since the opening of Sinamale 1 in the 1990s, no major maintenance work has been carried out on the Sinamale and Malé Hiya flats.
“These buildings have reached a condition that poses risks to residents. That is why I made this pledge during the presidential election,” he said.
President Muizzu said the Cabinet decided in January to provide the assistance, but implementation was delayed due to a lack of cooperation from the Malé City Council.
He said the flats remain the primary residences for occupants until replacement housing is constructed, and that the government therefore decided to support repair works. He added that responsibility lies with the state to address housing conditions.
The issue was discussed during a meeting held on 17 February between the President and residents of Sinamale and Malé Hiya flats. Residents raised concerns over the condition of the buildings, as well as rent payments and accumulated fines.
Following the meeting, the President’s Office announced that owners of Sinamale 1, 2, 3 and 4, and Malé Hiya 1 and 2, would receive support through two measures: a full waiver of accumulated fines due to non-payment of flat instalments, and an allowance of MVR 100,000 per flat.
According to the announced arrangement, if a flat owner’s outstanding balance exceeds MVR 100,000, the allowance will be deducted from the debt. If the balance is less than MVR 100,000, the remaining amount will be deposited into the owner’s bank account after clearing the debt. Owners who have fully paid for their flats will receive the full amount directly into their accounts.
