ACC reviewing complaint over President Muizzu’s decision to give MVR 100,000 to old flat owners

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is reviewing a complaint regarding President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s decision to provide MVR 100,000 to residents who have paid for ownership of the Male' Hiyaa and Sinamale' flats.

According to the ACC, the matter has been formally lodged and is now under assessment.

President Muizzu announced the allowance on Monday during a meeting with residents of the two housing complexes. The decision comes decades after the flats were first occupied; both buildings, constructed in the 1990s, have since deteriorated significantly. Residents continue to face issues such as malfunctioning elevators, water leakage during rain, and structural wear.

Successive Male' City Councils, including those led by the MDP and during President Muizzu’s own tenure as mayor, have previously pledged to resolve the long‑standing issues surrounding the buildings and their ownership.

During a visit to the area last December, President Muizzu said he did not want the matter to remain unresolved and promised a “proper solution.” On Monday, he announced two measures:  

• Waiving fines accumulated due to non‑payment of flat fees  

• Providing MVR 100,000 as an allowance to each eligible flat owner, citing the prolonged delay in resolving ownership division

The announcement has drawn mixed public reactions. Some have questioned how the funds will be sourced, noting that the allowance was not included in the 2026 state budget. Others argued that, as public money is involved, taxpayers should be informed of the financial basis for the decision.

Critics on social media also raised concerns about the timing and nature of the allowance, with some describing it as politically motivated.

The ACC has not yet announced a timeline for its review.