Telethon to raise funds for mosque renovations postponed to Jan 7

The telethon planned by the Male’ City Council to raise funds for the renovation of mosques in Male’ City and suburban Hulhumale’ and Vilimale’, citing lack of budget allocated for the work, has been postponed to January 7.

The telethon had originally been scheduled for last Friday.

Male’ City Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu told Sun on Saturday that the telethon has been postponed to make additional preparations, and to increase participation.

“We don’t want to do something just for the sake of it. We want to renovate the mosques. We are meeting with business owners,” he said.

Muizzu said the telethon will be held in a manner which guarantees the outcome the city council wants.

He said the city council is preparing to hold the telethon on the first weekend of January.

“We are targeting that weekend. We have talked to different parties. Business owners and TV channels are onboard. Many TV channels have said they will join the telethon. All TV channels, except for RaajjeTV, are onboard. They [RajjeTV] did not attend any meetings either,” he said.

Muizzu said there aren’t any acceptable excuses to neglect renovation of mosques.

The shortage in the budget allocated for it should be no reason to stop renovation of mosques, he said.

Muizzu said the city council will maintain the mosques in the greater Male’ region “despite the challenges”.

The maintenance and repair of mosques fall under the purview of councils. The Male’ City Council maintains 42 mosques in the greater Male’ region.