MP Hannan has said today that he has applied to withdraw the Media and Broadcasting Commission Bill due to lack of support from ruling PNC, which holds parliament majority.
Independent MP for Thulhadhoo constituency Abdul Hannan AbooBakuru has said today that he has applied to withdraw the Media and Broadcasting Bill submitted to parliament due to lack of support from ruling People's National Congress (PNC) which holds super majority.
Hannan told Mihaaru News that he had applied to withdraw the bill due to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu stating that it stands against his policies.
"There are 75 members from ruling PNC. Then there's about 14 other members. So, as this bill cannot go forward without support from the ruling party MPs, I decided to withdraw it," he said.
The first hearing of the bill has already been completed, with the preliminary debate to be held next.
In the ceremony held on Sunday to mark one year in office of this administration, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu stated that the bill as it is does not align with his policies and principles. He said that he has no inclination to control media, and instead wishes to further broaden press freedom in the country.
Journalists and organizations also had multiple reservations about the bill. Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), together with Maldives Media Council and Transparency Maldives, launched a campaign to advocate against the bill as well. A petition formed under the campaign had already received signatures from over a 100 journalists.
In a meeting with MJA, Attorney General Ahmed Usham also assured that resolutions would be found to journalists' concerns about the bill.
As per the bill, Media Council and Broadcasting Commission will be dissolved, and replaced with a Media and Broadcasting Commission.
The commission will be made up of seven members. These seven members will include four appointed by the President with parliamentary approval and three elected from media. Media and broadcasting outlets which have been operating under official registration for a minimum of five years, and journalists working at these media outlets, will be eligible to vote for these three members.
The bill grants the President the authority to appoint the President and Vice President of the commission, with parliamentary approval.
The bill further states that if any media repeatedly acts against set disciplinary standards, they can be fined between MVR 5000 and MVR 50,000. Individuals can be fined between MVR 5000 and MVR 10,000.
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