Mayor Azim blames state institutions for Fish Market project delays

Malé City Mayor Adam Azim has expressed deep frustration over the stalled development of the Malé Fish Market, claiming that the delay is primarily due to the inaction of state oversight institutions.

Speaking at a campaign rally for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) last night, Azim revealed that a comprehensive audit report regarding the project’s controversial contracts has been completed and shared with all City Council members.

The issue, which first surfaced in August, involves two conflicting agreements that were allegedly signed for the same project under suspicious circumstances.

According to the Mayor, the second contract was established during the period when the mayoral position remained vacant, following President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s departure from the role to assume the presidency. He further noted that this second agreement was made with a company called FJ Design, in direct contradiction to the decision previously reached by the Bid Committee.

During a campaign meeting held at the party headquarters to seek the MDP ticket for the upcoming local council elections, Mayor Adam Azim stated that the issue regarding the fish market agreement has been submitted to both the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the police.

"In my view, no person should be allowed to remain in their position if they have touched or misappropriated any public property or funds. That person must receive the appropriate punishment," Adam Azim said.

Azim noted that there has been no significant progress or communication from these bodies. He even approached the Independent Institutions Committee of the Parliament to expedite the matter, but reported receiving no response.

"I have requested the Parliament's Independent Institutions Committee to expedite this matter, but there has been no word yet. In my view, a country's affairs should not have reached this point," Adam Azim said.

He stated that during the period when the mayoral position was vacant following President Muizzu's resignation, an agreement was signed with a second party to manage the fish market without terminating the initial agreement first. Adam Azim stated that the second contract was signed in a manner that would "destroy and crush" the entire City Council.

Adam Azim stated that his work within the council is dedicated to the rights and interests of the Maldivian people. He further emphasized that his true competition is not against individuals, but rather against the various issues facing Malé. He asserted that there is no one who possesses a deeper understanding of the challenges within the capital than he does.

"God willing, there will be no one here who has dedicated more time to this than I have. Therefore, I am well aware of the issues in Hulhumalé, Malé, and Villimalé," Adam Azim said.

"It is not that I am unaware of the problems  in the Malé region. When the budget for this year was passed, funds were included specifically to protect the corals in the Malé area."

He stated that this is a topic no one has ever discussed before, and that it is not just trees that need to be planted. Therefore, Adam Azim mentioned that specific amounts have now been included in the Malé City Council budget for both planting trees and planting coral.

"We do not go to the office or come out to serve just to engage in idle talk. We are here to work seriously. My father always used to tell me, 'Whatever you do, do it properly and with sincerity. You are sitting there to look after the people’s money and property; do it with honesty and integrity. No one’s personal wealth is ever enough, they always try to accumulate more,'" Adam Azim said, recalling the advice of his late father.