President Mohamed Muizzu has said that he does not accept restricting local authority after abolishing the atoll councils and limiting the powers of island councils.

"I don't believe in excluding councils and depriving them of their power," Muizzu said at the closing ceremony of a motorcycle rally held by the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) in Male' on Friday (March 13).

With the April 4 local council elections looming, Muizzu said one of the reasons for choosing PNC candidates was that restricting local authority is not his policy.

However, the government-controlled parliament has amended the Decentralisation Act to abolish the atoll councils and prevent the work of island councils.

Muizzu also said developing islands through the decentralisation principle will bring the most benefits to the people.

"So it is important to have councillors who cooperate with the government," Muizzu said.

But the parliament's amendment to the law allows the government to carry out projects on islands without council involvement.

Meanwhile, development projects have stopped on the islands since Muizzu came to power. These include islands with councils controlled by the ruling party.