Opening the sitting, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla stated that the motion did not meet the criteria outlined in Article 197 of the parliament regulations, which require emergency motions to be based on factual evidence, which have not been met.
Parliament has rejected an emergency motion submitted by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) regarding the awarding of office space to the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) in a building leased out by MMTV, a media outlet launched last week.
The motion, submitted by MDP MP for Galolhu South, Meekail Ahmed Naseem, was excluded from today’s parliamentary agenda.
Opening the sitting, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla stated that the motion did not meet the criteria outlined in Article 197 of the parliament regulations, which require emergency motions to be based on factual evidence.
“The condition has not been met,” said Speaker Abdul Raheem. “As a result, the emergency motion cannot be accepted.”
The controversy relates to a lease awarded to Maldives Media House Pvt Ltd, the parent company of MMTV, following a public tender announced on 25 June 2024 by the National Tender Board. Maldives Media House secured the bid for office space intended for NSPA’s operations, with a five-year rent agreement totaling MVR 34.8 million for four floors.
In his motion, MP Meekail highlighted allegations circulating on social media, claiming that two of the rented floors are being used by MMTV rent-free.
“If these claims are true, it suggests that part of the state budget allocated to NSPA is being diverted to fund MMTV operations,” he said.
The emergency motion also raised concerns over the suitability of awarding the lease to Maldives Media House, given its primary operations as a media outlet.
Currently, NSPA operates out of three floors in Machangolhi Seeraazee, a property owned by former minister Ahmed Thasmeen Ali. While the floors are leased long-term by Maldives Media House it has been reported that one of these floors houses MMTV, while the other floors are subleased to various parties.
On Friday, NSPA requested the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate the allegations of corruption linked to the leasing arrangement.
In a letter to ACC President Adam Shamil, NSPA requested for a thorough investigation and asked for the report to be shared with the agency as soon as possible.
MP Meekail’s motion also alleged that some journalists and presenters employed by MMTV are employees of government agencies, with their salaries paid from state budgets.
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