Councillors boycott meeting over mayor's conduct
Muizz has been trying to get PPM's presidential ticket if jailed former president Abdulla Yameen is unable to contest.
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By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Not satisfied with the way Male mayor Dr Mohamed Muizz was conducting the council meeting, councillors including those representing the mayor's own PPM boycotted Thursday’s meeting.
The council meeting, which is usually held every Wednesday, was not held on the day due to lack of quorum. Thursday's meeting had to be cut short as well due to lack of quorum.
The issue arose when two agenda items moved by Henveiru West councillor Ahmed Aifan, who represents PPM, were not included in the agenda. They are:
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To change the composition of standing committees
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Where the council procures a service or purchases an item of value above MVR 35,000, it shall be approved by the Corporate Affairs Committee and the information shall be required to be brought to the meetings of the council
Nine of the 18 members of the council present left the session saying they did not support the agenda as the two proposed items were not on the agenda. These include:
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1-
Aifan
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2-
Deputy mayor Ahmed Nareesh (PPM)
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3-
Maafannu West councillor Ibrahim Abubakr (PPM)
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4-
Galolhu South councillor Ibrahim Mohammed (PPM)
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5-
Galolhu North councillor Mohammed Saif Fathih (The Democrats)
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6-
Galolhu Central councillor Mariyam Reehan Nazim (The Democrats)
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7-
Galolhu West councillor Mariyam Nazima Mohammed Faiz (The Democrats)
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8-
Henveiru North councillor Aishaht Nizli Rasheed (MDP)
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9-
Maafannu West councillor Mohammed Areesh (MDP)
The video of Thursday’s meeting has now been deleted from the city council's YouTube channel. However, the video, which has been obtained by Atoll Times, shows the mayor asking for a vote to pass the agenda as soon as the session started.
However, Aifan expressed concern that the two issues he raisedwere not on the agenda.
In response, Muizz briefly said that the agenda was formulated in accordance with the rules of procedure approved by the council. He said he would explain in writing why the two items were not on the agenda.
The agenda was supported by 11 votes in favour. However, the remaining disgruntled members left the session, saying they were "not in support" of the agenda. With that, the quorum of the meeting was lost.
Saif told Atoll Times that the mayor does not have the authority to exclude members' motions from the agenda.
"The mayor said it was in his authority. Right now the mayor is acting in an autocratic manner," he said.
Saif alleged that:
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The mayor did not put the two items on the agenda because he feared losing the control he has of the committees; if that change is made, he believes that things will not be done as he wishes
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Members want the Corporate Affairs Committee to share details of its decisions in a transparent manner because of the potential for corruption through it; however, Muizz is obstructing that
Aifan told Atoll Times that he was told that his motions were not put on the agenda because he did not file the motion within the prior 72 hours required by the rules.
"This is not because I am unhappy with the mayor. Things should be done in a transparent system. I want to give the party and its members a good name and not allow them to point fingers. I don't have a problem with the mayor," he said.
The council has not yet commented on the matter.
Rules have already been amended to limit Muizz's powers with the support of PPM councillors.
These moves come amid accusations that Muizz has been trying to get PPM's presidential ticket if jailed former president Abdulla Yameen is unable to contest. Muizz, however, denies the allegations.
