Corporation to meet council as dispute over registering FDC flat residents intensifies

Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation (FDC) says it has decided to meet the Male' City Council regarding the registration of residents living in the corporation’s flats.

Speaking in parliament on Monday, North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu) said the council has stated that a residents’ registry cannot be created for the FDC flats because the units are under a lease agreement with FDC. He asked what would happen to the residents if registration cannot be carried out under the current arrangement.

In response, Housing Minister Dr Abdullah Muthalib said residence registration will be processed once flat recipients have made their payments. He described the council’s refusal to register residents as an act that “harasses the public”, saying the decision lacked legal basis.

He added that the Housing Ministry has instructed the council to register Male' City residents.

When contacted by Sun, FDC Managing Director Hamdhaan Shakeel said the corporation is scheduled to meet the council to understand why registration is being withheld.

“The Housing Ministry will have informed [the council] that there is no problem. There is no reason why they should not do it, right?” Hamdhaan said.

He said the council has not sent any communication to FDC regarding the refusal to register residents, and that the only letter received so far was from the Housing Ministry.

“We will have written to the Housing Ministry that we have given permission to the city council, and we will have written to the city council that we have no problem,” he said.

Mayor Adam Azim and the council were not reachable for comment.

Kudu, in a letter to the Mayor, requested that the ministry and the council hold consultations to resolve the issue of residents being unable to register in Male' City. He also enclosed a letter sent last April by Housing Ministry Permanent Secretary Mohamed Shamil to Mayor Azim and FDC Managing Director Hamdhaan Shakeel. In the letter to Azim, Shamil asked the council to register recipients of FDC flats and their dependents in the Male' Residents Register in line with relevant laws and regulations.

The letter to Hamdhaan instructed FDC to allow the council to register flat recipients and their dependents under the housing scheme.