Mayor Warns MCC Will Take Olhu Hiyaa Under City Council Control if Management Fails
Photo: Male’ City Coucil
Malé Mayor Adam Azim has warned that the Malé City Council (MCC) will take the Olhu Hiyaa cat waste management facility under its direct control if government authorities and the Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) fail to manage it properly.
The mayor made the remarks during today’s Malé City Council meeting, after councillors raised concerns over cat faeces left unattended on roads, warning that it poses a public health and hygiene risk. Council members for North Galolhu, Saif Fathih, and West Galolhu, Nazima Faiz, highlighted that several areas have weeks-old cat deposits that remain unattended, raising health and sanitation risks.
At today’s @MaleCitymv jalsa, @MNazimaFaiz and I raised the following concerns:
1) Heaps of garbage often remain unremoved. Special provisions are needed during Ramadan to ensure timely clearance.
2) Removal of cat feces should be included in routine road sweeping. In several… https://t.co/Bj43gGUoio pic.twitter.com/o6UQUWFueV— Saif Fathih (@aekofathih) January 21, 2026
In response, Mayor Adam Azim defended the facility, Olhu Hiyaa, designed to manage stray cat on Greater Male’ Area roads. He said the facility meets the required standards and criticised both Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) and government authorities for failing to utilise it effectively. “Neither the government nor WAMCO can claim that a facility is missing now. If they cannot manage it, the city council will take over,” Azim said.
The councillors also raised broader waste management issues, including heaps of garbage that often remain uncollected and leaks from WAMCO garbage trucks that spread putrid liquid across town. Special provisions were urged during Ramadan to ensure timely clearance of accumulated waste.
މާލެ ސިޓީ ކައުންސިލްގެ 4 ވަނަ ދައުރުގެ 230 ވަނަ ރަސްމީ އާއްމު ޖަލްސާ https://t.co/cxrVW2Q364— Malé City Council (@MaleCitymv) January 21, 2026
Azim also addressed WAMCO’s broader performance, stating that although the company now gathers garbage onto canvases to prevent liquid leaks, the effort remains inconsistent. He stressed that WAMCO operates under law to serve the city council and must adhere to its responsibility to keep Malé’s streets clean. The mayor further said that WAMCO management does not heed his requests, and claims that WAMCO operates under the impression that it is a private company, and not a state-owned enterprise established purley to enact City Council’s regulations.
The mayor also said he had raised the issue of residents leaving garbage outside with WAMCO. He noted that the company informed him it had previously instructed the public to keep waste indoors, but residents often ignored these guidelines. Mayor Azim said he advised WAMCO to implement a system of collecting garbage directly from inside homes and to continue urging the public not to leave waste outside.
