An audit report has shown that a total of MVR 1.2 million had been spent on Addu City Council's experience trips to Malaysia and Singapore in 2023 and 2024.
According to the report that has been publicized by the Audit Office, the visits from both years were conducted against the instructions of the Ministry of Finance and Planning and relevant government agencies.
As per the circular that was publicized by the Ministry of Finance and Planning at the time, they requested the council to limit their expenses within their budget and to take ensure increasing the efficiency of their expenses.
Along with that, the Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works at the time also requested via a circular for the councils to specially prioritize a reduction in recurrent spending, to only spend when absolutely necessary and to pay attention to only conduct visits that were absolutely necessary at that point in time.
The Addu City Council spent MVR 515,000 on their visits to Malaysia and Singapore in 2023. 60 percent of that expense was put towards the daily allowance and pocket money of the 10 individuals who went on the visit. MVR 316,000 was spent on the expenses of the 10 individuals. Tickets to fly out of Maldives totaled MVR 88,000, with MVR 35,000 being spent on traveling from L. Gan to Male'. The audit report statistics show that MVR 13,000 had been spent on the 10 individuals for their accommodation in Male'. Eight council members and two administrative staff took part in the visit.
The Addu City Council spent MVR 65,000 on the training that was conducted during the visit. The Audit Office stated that the training did not align with the purpose of the visit which was written in the report of the visit. The council members took part in training related to the Malaysian Institute of Management's "Creative Thinking and Problem Solving Skills". The audit report also highlighted that the Singapore visits primarily focused on Singapore's Maritime Gallery, Sustainable Singapore Gallery, Singapore Redevelopment Gallery, along with meeting with the Singapore Management University, which did not align with the purpose of the visit either.
Addu City Council's visit to Malaysia in 2024 saw nine members from the Women's Development Committee, council members and the Secretary General take part.
MVR 686,000 was spend on the visit. This includes MVR 348,000 for the daily allowance and pocket money of the staff, which is around 50 percent of the total trip expenditure. Tickets to fly out of Maldives totaled MVR 238,000, with tickets to Male' and accommodation totaling MVR 39,000. MVR 60,000 had been set for training allowance as well.
The Audit Office said that even if they had taken part in the Malaysian Institute of Management's "Creative Thinking and Problem Solving Skills" training course, the training report cannot conclude that the experience related to the committee's responsibilities was acquired.
Visits to Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Gallery, Sustainable Singapore Gallery, Mobility Gallery, Sentosa, Orchid Garden and Botanical Garden were conducted in the first three days of the visit. The Audit Office stated that there is no way to ascertain the details of the experience gained via the committee's responsibilities and their visits to said locations. The Audit Office also stated that in light of the experiences from the visit, the report regarding the visit does not include how development for women in cities can be carried out nor how it can be enforced.
