City council plans telethon to raise funds to renovate mosques

Male’ City Council has announced plans to hold a telethon to raise funds to renovate mosques in Male’ City and suburban Hulhumale’ and Vilimale’, citing lack of budget allocated for the work.

Male’ City Council has announced a tentative date of December 16 for the telethon.

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

The budget for the work is issued by Islamic Ministry.

However, the council complaints the funds allocated for the work is insufficient.

City councilor Adam Rameez told Sun on Monday that it has been five months since funds were issued for renovation of mosques.

“It has been five months since they have given us funds. They gave us MVR 1 million last year. They gave just MVR 3 million this year,” he said.

Rameez said the Islamic Ministry’s Waqf Fund collects MVR 9 million in donations each year, none of which goes to the city council.

He said the government only covers the pay of custodial workers, while the ministry requires an invoice after the work is done.

“But how are to spend money we don’t have? The government isn’t giving us any money, hence the telethon,” he said.

He asked for public support to make the telethon a success.