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Male' City Mayor Adam Azim -- Photo X

Male’: Male’ City Mayor Adam Azim has warned that amendments to the transport law could create major financial challenges for Male’ City Council and affect essential services provided to residents.

In a post on X today, Azim said the changes could prevent the council from directly receiving revenue collected as vehicle fees.

ދަތުރުފަތުރުގެ ޤާނޫނަށް ގެނައި އިޞްލާޙުގެ ސަބަބުން، މާލެ ސިޓީ ކައުންސިލަށާއި މާލޭގެ ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ލިބެމުންދާ ޚިދުމަތްތަކަށް ނުހަނު ބޮޑު ހުރަސްތަކެއް އެޅިގެންދާނެ.

މި ބިލާއި ގުޅިގެން ވެހިކަލް ފީގެ ގޮތުގައި ކައުންސިލަށް ލިބެމުންދިޔަ އާމްދަނީ ސީދާ ކައުންސިލަށް ނުލިބޭގޮތް ހެދުމަކީ…

— Adam Azim, Mayor of Male’ City (@adamazim) September 3, 2026

He said vehicle fee revenue is a major source of funding for services including road maintenance, mosque upkeep, flood water removal, emergency assistance and street cleaning.

Impact on council finances

Azim said reducing the council’s access to this revenue could undermine the decentralized governance system in Male’.

He warned that the loss of funds could eventually affect essential services provided to residents and cause significant damage to the public interest and quality of life in the capital.

Call to review amendments

The mayor called for changes made to the Transport Act and the law governing the acquisition of land to be reviewed in line with the principles of decentralization.

Azim urged authorities to restore the financial capacity that Male’ City Council needs to provide services to the capital’s residents.

He made the remarks while highlighting concerns over the financial impact of the legislative changes on the council and its ability to continue providing essential public services.