Pres Muizzu promises ‘good remedy’ for issues facing Sinamale’ and Male’ Hiyaa tenants

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu promised to provide effective solutions to the longstanding issues facing the tenants of Male’ Hiyaa and Sinamale’ flats in the Maldivian capital on Tuesday, as multiple residents of the government-issued flats raised concerns over the troubles they face during a public meeting held for the Galolhu community.

People began living at the Male’ Hiyaa and Sinamale’ flats in the early 1990s. The flats, while more spacious than the flats later built under social housing projects, are now severely rundown.

Redevelopment of the flats had been a project President Muizzu had championed during his tenure as Male’ City Mayor. And during his mayorship, he requested the government to write off the fines owed by tenants of the flats – a request the government honored.

Many of the people living in Male’ Hiyaa and Sinamale’ flats raised concerns over the structural integrity of their homes with President Muizzu during the public meeting he held on Tuesday night with residents of Galolhu district. They also complained about getting notifications from the Male’ City Council instructing them to pay fines for late rent payments.

President Muizzu reacted with surprise over the notifications from the City Council.

He said that the fines had been written off during his mayorship, and directed Mohamed Areesh, the Deputy Mayor of Male’, who was in attendance at the meeting, to look into the matter.

“This is not something the City Council should be doing under any circumstances. That [the fines] were cancelled during my mayorship. My successor is supposed to continue this. I ask that the Deputy Mayor raise this at the Council floor and rectify this,” he said.

During the meeting, many raised concerns over the lack of proper maintenance on the Male’ Hiyaa and Sinamale’ flats, as well as water leaks, and elevators being out of service.

President Muizzu said that it is the responsibility of the Male’ City Council to maintain and repair the flats.

But he said that since the City Council had clearly failed, his administration will be directly intervening in this matter to remedy the issues.

“We will look into possible concessions on payments in order to facilitate ownership. We will assess the state of the entire place. We will work to provide an overall solution to this after engaging in discussions with relevant authorities. The government will provide a good remedy to the people living in the four Sinamale’ flats and the Male’ Hiyaa in Male’,” he said.

During his mayorship, President Muizzu announced a project to develop new residential buildings to rehouse the residents Male’ Hiyaa and Sinamale’ flats. Back then, he blamed the administration of the-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for blocking the project.

However, the project remains stalled, even now.