Dr. Muizzu pledges Hiyaa rent reduction to MVR 5,600

The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People's National Congress (PNC) coalition candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has pledged to reduce the rental rates of Hiyaa social housing flats.

Dr. Muizzu said that the rent reduction also aligns with the directives of former President Abdulla Yameen.

The PPM/PNC coalition candidate made the pledge while speaking to the public on Friday afternoon, September 15 at a rally held near Hiyaa Flats, in Hulhumalé 2.

Speaking at the rally, Dr. Muizzu alleged that the current presidency had initially attempted to demolish the housing flats.

According to Dr. Muizzu, after the current government failed in its attempt to demolish the towers, it then began awarding the units to recipients unjustly.

He pledged to reimburse the finishing expenditures borne by the recipients of the Hiyaa flats if elected for presidency.

Dr. Muizzu said that during Yameen's administration, they initially established five presets for the interiors of the units, and HDC was responsible for designing them according to the recipients' preferences. The opposition coalition candidate promised to reinstate this policy and obtain a loan for Urbanco to facilitate it.

"God willing, we are promising to reduce the rents to MVR 5,600 according to the policy of Yameen's presidency. God willing, we will also install an additional lift in each tower," Dr. Muizzu, who is also the Malé City Mayor said.

"This is achievable from engineering and other perspectives," Dr. Muizzu said.

Dr. Muizzu further said that the current government received enough time to further develop the area of Hiyaa towers, but began populating the area without addressing developmental concerns.

He pledged to develop the vacant plots in Hulhumalé 2 and formally award the plots the current government issued.

Dr. Muizzu also said that the down payment and monthly rents from Vinares social housing flats can be reduced, and pledged to cut the rates from the towers as well.

Additionally, he pledged to negotiate with commercial banks to seek leniencies for the loans acquired by social housing recipients.