People's National Congress (PNC) presidential candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has pledged to create a special ministry to empower local councils.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Haa Dhaal Finey on Saturday night, Muizzu said the grant presently allocated to councils from the state budget is not an adequate fund.
Muizzu said councils should also have access to funding through the government and that he would create a special ministry for the purpose under his administration.
"I will arrange for the councils to function properly, by establishing a special ministry for that. Then it won't be just the funds allocated as grants, there will be opportunities within the government for additional funds," he said.
Muizzu pledged to seek investments to expand tourism in Finey, noting the size and ample natural resources of the island.
Infrastructure and road development should take place to facilitate tourism businesses and to provide ease and convenience to the public, Muizzu said.
"We should seek the public's opinion and consultation for developing roads. We will consider doing it in a manner that facilitates tourism and makes it easy for the public," he said.
After his victory in the first round, Muizzu said in Finey that he was trying to win more votes and seek public opinion.
At a campaign rally in Alif Dhaal Mahibadhoo on Thursday night, Muizzu pledged to amend the pension law to allow the use of funds for more purposes.
The pension fund has MVR 20 billion with more than MVR 100 million a year as profits, he said.
At present, the retirement funds can only be accessed for Hajj pilgrimages and making downpayments on home purchases.
Muizzu proposed legal changes to allow workers to withdraw funds after 10 years and to expand the fund with tourism and private sector investments.
In his speech at the rally, Muizzu also pledged to provide state funding for private media.
Newspapers and media companies are enslaved due to their dependence on sponsorship fees from state-owned enterprises (SOEs), he said.
"God willing, I will propose changing the law to provide a certain percentage from the state budget to the media and various persons practicing journalism," he said.
Campaigning in Hulhumale' on Friday, Muizzu pledged to reduce the rent for the Hiya social housing flats to MVR 5,600 a month and reimburse tenants with MVR 200,000 each for finishing work.
Muizzu also pledged to reduce the rent for the Vinares flats and SOE flats.
Muizzu won 101,635 votes or 46 percent of the vote in the first round. He will face off against President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih - who came second with 86,161 votes or 39 percent - in the second round on September 30.
