Mayor Azim Defends Malé Town Hall Spending, Says Costs Nearly Halved Since 2023 

Malé City Mayor Adam Azim has rejected reports about the cost of the council’s public town hall meetings, saying expenses have been significantly reduced compared with 2023 and accusing some online outlets and social media accounts of framing the figures incorrectly.

According to the mayor, MVR 2,050,520 was spent on public meetings in 2023. This year, he said the council spent MVR 567,839.34 on the February meeting and MVR 585,137.34 on the meeting held in July, describing both as substantial reductions from previous spending. 

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ބައެއް އޮންލައިން ނޫސްތަކާއި ސޯޝަލް މީޑިއާގައި ރައްޔިތުންގެ ބައްދަލުވުމުގެ ޚަރަދުތަކާ ގުޅުވައިގެން ޙަޤީޤަތާ ޚިލާފަށް ފަތުރަމުންދާ ޚަބަރުތަކަކީ ކަނޑައެޅިގެން ދޮގެއް. 2023 ގައި ރައްޔިތުންގެ ބައްދަލުވުމަށް 2،050،520.00ރ ޚަރަދު ކޮށްފައިވޭ، ޚަރަދު ކުޑަކުރުމަށް އެޅި ހަރުދަނާ… https://t.co/HmC6Zjz23a— Adam Azim, Mayor of Male’ City (@adamazim) August 18, 2026

The mayor said some news outlets had presented the figures in a way that suggested the total expenditure for the entire year had been spent on a single meeting. He urged media organisations and others to verify information before reporting and refrain from spreading what he described as false information.

Information obtained under the Right to Information Act by Ahmed Aiham, a contender for Malé mayor in the 2026 local council elections, showed that MVR 567,839 was spent on the February meeting. The largest expense was MVR 360,000 for event management, which was awarded through a bidding process, while MVR 135,000 was spent on producing a video presentation.

Is there any justification for @MaleCitymv to spend MVR 1+ million on a red carpet event touted as a “town hall” when there is no substantive mechanism for community engagement?

500k for a few hours every time for twice a year.

RTIs are a powerful tool. We deserve better pic.twitter.com/fM67XrtS9J— Ahmed Aiham #HingaaRajje (@anehkenaa) August 17, 2026

The February meeting also incurred MVR 30,024 for banner printing, MVR 34,607 for television live coverage and MVR 8,205 for booklet printing.

The July meeting cost MVR 585,137, with the largest chunk of spending, which is MVR 360,000 spent on event management, and MVR 129,600 on a video presentation awarded through single-source procurement. Other expenses included MVR 34,607 for television live coverage, MVR 34,992 for banner printing, MVR 18,000 for photography and videography, MVR 5,702 for banner hanging and MVR 2,235 for booklet printing.

Despite the mayor’s assertion that costs have fallen compared with previous years, members of the public have continued to question the level of spending on the meetings.

Malé City Council holds public town hall meetings twice a year, in February and July. The meetings are held to fulfil a requirement under the Decentralisation Act, which requires city councils to conduct public consultation meetings at least twice a year to hear public concerns, share financial and progress reports and discuss municipal matters with residents.