An amendment was submitted to the Maldives parliament proposing to exempt speedboats and other marine vessels used by Maldives Police Service from the marine transport act.
Lobbied by member of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Maavashu MP Azhan Fahumy, the amendment states that the police are often hindered in their service as their marine transport vessels are not exempted from the marine transport act. However, the proposed Bill does not specify to which hindrances it refers to.
Currently the marine vessels that are exempted from the act are the vessels used by Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), foreign military vessels and vessels that have diplomatic clearance.
Azhan proposed to amend vessels used for military purposes to those used for national security in the act.