MP Meekail removed from parliament after protest over unanswered question about Saudi ‘Prince’

South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem was ordered to leave the parliament floor after protesting against what he said was an incomplete answer from the foreign minister to a question about a Saudi royal.

Foreign minister Dr Abdulla Khaleel had been summoned to respond to Meekail’s query about Fahad Saud al-Shalan, a member of the Saudi royal family who visited Maldives to discuss investment in a financial centre.

Meekail noted that news of al-Shalan’s meeting with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had been removed from the president’s office website, and asked why the office had referred to him as “His Royal Highness Prince”.

Khaleel said al-Shalan was a son of the Saudi royal family. However, in Saudi Arabia the title “His Royal Highness Prince” was reserved for male descendants in the line of succession. He did not address why the title had been used in this case.

When Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla, ruled that the question had been answered, Meekail raised a point of order and accused Minister Khaleel of evading the issue. Dissatisfied with the Speaker's decision, he protested in the chamber, prompting the speaker to name him. Other opposition MDP MPs also voiced objections, before Meekail left the floor.

Hithadhoo South MP Ibrahim Nazil also asked the minister again on why the meeting’s report had been removed from the president’s office website. Khaleel said the matter was outside his jurisdiction and declined to comment.

Minister Khaleel told parliament that relations between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia remained intact, and urged public figures not to act in ways that might deter foreign investors.