Male’ mayor-elect says he will not condone wasteful spending

Adam Azim, who was elected as the mayor of the Maldivian capital last weekend, says he will not create unnecessary jobs at the city council, but that capable individuals must be brought in to effectively run any institution.

Azim, who won the Male’ City mayoral by-election on Saturday, told Sun in an exclusive interview on Tuesday that he will not create unnecessary jobs and engage in wasteful spending.

The city council, under President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s mayorship, had created 365 new jobs, and hired 13 individuals to high-paid consultancy jobs.

Responding to a question regarding whether he, too, planned on creating new jobs, Azim said that he believes he needs capable individuals by his side.

The former CEO of MTCC said that the city council will open job opportunities for capable individuals under his mayorship.

“In any case, I need capable individuals by my side. No place can be run without capable individuals,” he said.

“But you will not see me see me making wasteful hires. You will see me hiring individuals who are necessary for the posts. In Sha Allah, you will not see me making one single wasteful hire.”

Azim added that he has no immediate plans of laying off any of the staff at the city council.

He said that he will make his decision once he officially assumes mayorship.

Azim, the main opposition MDP’s candidate, won the mayoral race with 7,621 votes. His closest rival, former attorney general Aishath Azima Shakoor, the main ruling PNC candidate, trailed behind with 5,031 votes.