Muizz pledges job security post Hulhumale council transfer

After the opposition PPM-PNC coalition had promised to transfer Hulhumale from under Urbanco jurisdiction to the Male City Council, the government has been intimidating Urbanco employees and creating conflicts, the opposition's presidential candidate Dr Mohamed Muizz said on Wednesday.

Muizz has been advocating bringing Hulhumale under the Male City Council since he was elected Male mayor in 2021. However, Hulhumale is still owned and managed by the state-owned Urbanco.

After greeting supporters gathered at the harbour area of Sh. Kanditheemu during his campaign tour, Muizz made these allegations at a rally held at the PPM camp in the island.

Reiterating his campaign pledge, Muizz said Hulhumale's administration along with its budget and resources would be transferred to the city council from Urbanco. Employees will have the option to transfer to the council as well, he added.

If the council needs more employees, the council will hire more allowed within the council's budget, he said.

"No one will lose their jobs. And their salaries will not be reduced," Muizz said.

"I don't know why [the government] is trying to do this. I don't understand why it is trying to deceive the people."

At a rally at the Hiyaa Flat area on Sunday evening to launch his presidential manifesto, Muizz said Hulhumale belonged to the people of Male, and pledged to transfer the administration of the neighbourhood from the responsibility of state-owned Urbanco to the elected Male City Counci.