The Ministry of Housing and Construction today ordered the Malé City Council to immediately halt works being carried out on the land where Jamaluddheen School previously operated.
In a letter signed by the Ministry's State Minister Ismail Hamid and sent to Malé Mayor Adam Azim, it stated that in response to public concerns over an increase in individuals committing undesirable acts and dumping waste due to the land lying vacant, permission to lower the perimeter wall and clean and maintain the compound was granted to the council in September 2024 upon their request.
However, the letter stated that the Ministry has noticed works being carried out by the council on the land, and that it is not a property that was ever handed over for the council's use.
The Ministry stated that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had decided to develop the land into a pleasant public space featuring an underground parking facility. The letter noted that in February 2024, the President's Office informed the Ministry of the decision to develop an underground parking facility specifically for motorcycles, a park designated for children and families, and a General Practitioner (GP) clinic on the site.
Therefore, the letter added that the Ministry is carrying out necessary tasks related to developing the land in line with that purpose.
Consequently, the council was instructed in the letter to halt the works being carried out. The letter also noted that because the council had previously carried out works at the site, the then Planning Ministry had requested clarification regarding the nature of those works, but no response was received.
After Jamaluddheen School was run on the land, it was later utilized as an election center for the Elections Commission (EC). However, under the previous government, a portion of the land was given to construct the new Arabiyya School building, while the remaining portion was allocated to expand Jamaluddheen School.
Nevertheless, this government decided to build the new Arabiyya School building on Block 381, which is the site of the former waste transfer station.
Regarding the land of the former Jamaluddheen, Mayor Azim had also previously stated that the decision was to build an underground parking facility and a park on the site. At the time, the Mayor stated that work to construct the facility was being carried out in collaboration with the Housing Ministry.
The council had also publicized a plan at the time illustrating how the site would be developed.
