MMC's President Mustafa reinstated at PSM

Just a day since dismissing Maldives Media Council (MMC)'s President Ahmed Mustafa from Public Service Media (PSM), the company's board has reinstated his job.

The company's Deputy Managing Director Abdulla Yameen confirmed to local media outlet Mihaaru that Mustafa's job at the news operations section was restored after he submitted a request to the board to review his dismissal.

“After reviewing the matter, Mustafa's job has been reinstated,” he said.

Mustafa, who has been working for TVM/PSM for more than 30 years, did not publicly comment on why he was fired.

Although PSM has not confirmed why Mustafa was let go, the issue of PSM live broadcasting the "Skeelan" documentary by 'Adhadhu' online, which won MMC's investigative journalism award, has been criticised on social media. The documentary was about President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's step-mother, who makes serious allegations against the president in it.

The documentary, which aired during last year's presidential election campaign, has been denied by the President.

While accusations about property were also made by Skeelan, First Lady Sajidha Mohamed, at the time, said that property was distributed by the Family Court as per Skeelan's wishes. She explained that Skeelan got all the property she requested for from President Muizzu and at the Family and Court.

"She wanted [it] only one way. That is everything in Sri Lanka and all the money in Bank of Ceylon," Sajidha said, on 28th September, speaking at a campaign event in Dh. Meedhoo.

While the documentary was aired on PSM during the MMC award ceremony, PSM issued a statement last night accusing MMC of intentionally broadcasting content that violated the channel's content rules.

The statement said that a video was shown during the ceremony which contradicted PSM's editorial content and general standards of journalism.

The award categories and the journalists nominated for the awards will be known to MMC officials in advance, said PSM, adding that videos show in PSM's live coverage must be compliant with its editorial policies.

"The company believes that MMC's sudden screening of the video mentioned above was premeditated to deliberately air the content in violation with PSM's editorial policies, and as such strongly condemns it," the statement said.