The Male’ City Council has stated that information regarding individuals involved in corruption and the misappropriation of state resources within the council cannot be disclosed, citing the need to protect the state's financial and economic interests.
The opposition alleges that significant acts of corruption took place within the City Council during President Mohamed Muizzu’s tenure as Mayor of Male’. During the primary campaign for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) mayoral candidate, current Mayor Adam Azim revealed that cases related to corruption within the council had already been submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Police.
At a campaign rally on December 11, 2025, Azim said that two internal audits of the council had been completed and that cases had been forwarded for action against those involved in the identified issues. Following these remarks, opposition activist Aishath Shiman requested the council to share the details regarding these allegations.
However, the City Council failed to respond within the legally mandated timeframe. When the council finally replied in January 2026, it stated that the information would be published once it was approved during an official general meeting of the council. This response did not cite any specific legal provisions. Shiman filed a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICOM).
Shortly before yesterday’s ICOM hearing to review the matter, the City Council sent an email to the commission. Information Commissioner Ahid Rasheed revealed that this email contained a completely different justification.
"Citing Article 30 (a) and (b) of the Act, [the council stated] that this information cannot be shared in order to protect the financial and economic interests of the state," Ahid said.
Ahid noted that the council’s current refusal to release the information is a contradiction to its January response, which suggested the data was publishable. He further clarified that if information truly posed a threat to public economic interests, it could not be made public even through a council resolution.
"If this is information that can be published at a later date, it implies you yourselves accept that this is not information that would cause irreparable damage to the general economic interest. Therefore, there is a clear contradiction here," Ahid remarked.
The Commissioner ruled that the council's response was inadequate. He ordered the City Council to revise its response and provide a proper answer within three working days.
At the time Shiman initially requested the information, the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) held the majority in the Male’ City Council. However, the council is now under an opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) majority.
