Committee Chair, Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem said that administrative changes were necessary to fast track the bill. The committee has revised its timeline and decided to begin discussions with relevant authorities starting tomorrow.
Parliament’s Committee on National Security Services (241 Committee) has decided to expedite the stalled bill proposing a ban on Israeli passports in the Maldives, amid increasing criticism.
The bill, an amendment to the Immigration Act, was first introduced by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem on May 19. However, it has been stalled in the committee stage since then.
Initially, the committee had planned to finalize the bill by the end of February next year. During a recent meeting, members unanimously agreed to accelerate the process and consult stakeholders, including political parties, the Attorney General’s Office, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Tourism, Maldives Immigration, the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), and relevant NGOs, by the end of December.
Committee Chair, Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem said that administrative changes were necessary to fast track the bill. The committee has revised its timeline and decided to begin discussions with relevant authorities starting tomorrow.
The delays have drawn criticism from the opposition MDP and the public, who have accused the government and the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), which holds a parliamentary supermajority, of stalling the bill.
Efforts by the MDP to pass a resolution to expedite the bill were previously blocked by government affiliated members, leading to further criticism aimed at the government.
The committee’s decision to expedite the bill is seen as a response to mounting pressure over the prolonged delays.
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