Death threat issued against MP who proposed Tobacco Control amendments

MPs have called for an investigation into a recent incident where a death threat was issued on social media against ruling People's National Congress MP for Kim'bidhoo Ali Ashraq, who proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act.

The newly proposed amendment to the Tobacco Control Act states that even if a seller has a valid permit, they are required to verify if the buyer was born after January 1, 2007 and is of a minimum age of 21 years through checking IDs.

In today's debate on this bill, Manadhoo MP Husni Mubarak said that it is unacceptable that the MP who submitted the bill is being threatened with loss of life. He condemned the posters' comment, which was shared alongside a link to a news article on the amendment, and called for the matter to be swiftly investigated.

Minority Leader MP for South Hithadhoo Ibrahim Nazil agreed with this, reiterating that such actions are unacceptable.

Nazil further said that it is not in the practice of the parliament to have the MP proposing an amendment on behalf of the government shoulder full responsibility for it.

He stated that if the public has reservations about a bill proposed by the government, the parliament always takes these into consideration and bring necessary changes during the committee process.