Turning a deaf ear to journalists' worries unacceptable: MMC

Last night, the Maldives Media Council (MMC) expressed worry over the submission of the Media Regulation Bill and the actions that have followed. The bill was submitted by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan AbuBakuru.

The bill was accepted yesterday during an extraordinary hearing and referred to the Independent Institutions Committee for review. 49 PNC members voted in favor of the bill, while 12 members voted against it.

The bill was accepted while journalists had been protesting outside Parliament since the beginning of the session. The protest had come to an end as debate regarding the bill had also reached its conclusion and the hearing had adjourned for a recess.

Once journalists had dispersed and the hearing reconvened at 1pm, debate on the bill had reignited inside Parliament. Due to this, journalists had gathered outside the President's Office and Mulee-Aage and expressed their dissatisfaction.

During last night's MMC press conference, MMC President Hussein Safeeg had stated that they had requested the bill not be moved forward due to various concerns that they have. Experienced journalists, media councils, former President's, former administration members and international organizations having put forward the opinion to not accept the bill is also a reason why MMC had put forth their request, as said by Safeeg.

"Journalists have faced various challenges in the past. These issues can be solved through simple discussion. Our hope this time as well, is that our worries are heard and that it is responded to respectively and in kind," stated Safeeg.

As Safeeg went on to say, he fears that the bill would not only disrupt Maldivian journalism, it would set journalism in the country back many years.

MMC member Hafsee Abdulla had also stated that this is a bill that journalists are very much against and is not worthy of being discussed due to the negative impact it can inflict.

Hafsee had also stated that Parliament's actions of turning a deaf ear to the opinions of journalists and having no respect for them is something that weighs on him quite heavily.

"My worry today is the way the discussion of the bill transpired. Turning a deaf ear to journalists. The fact no respect was shown for the work that senior and other levels of journalists have done is quite concerning," said Hafsee.

"[Parliament members on the floor] had spoken as though they were undermining journalists, and that they aren't important enough."

While gesturing to what some Parliament members had said, Hafsee had stated that the problems some of the members had faced and had not received a fair form of justice were talked about on the Parliament floor but there are institutions that exist that can properly look into these issues. He questioned whether the media structure should be held responsible if the members do not get the justice they want.

MMC member Nahudha Faiz had also expressed concern over the hastened pace Parliament members had maintained in accepting the bill. She said the concerns over a bill that would deprive them of their constitutional rights are being expressed in defense of their own rights.

Nahudha had stated that the bill was designed in such a way that not only would journalists be stripped of the freedom of speech, but so would people who express their opinion on social media and content creators.

She called for the retraction of the bill and to peacefully protest against the bill.

MMC member Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim has stated that the bill was designed in a much worse manner than the last one. Media outlets are requesting PNC members, just like how the previous bill was rejected from Parliament, to reject this current bill as well, said Muzayyin.

"If Parliament passes the bill, journalists will call for the President to not ratify the bill."

Journalists are also signing a petition opposing the bill. The petition raises concerns that the bill narrows down press freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had stated this week that controlling the media is something he has never had an interest in, and the dissolvement of the MMC and the Broadcasting Commission along with the introduction of the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission and the subsequent appointment of members along with his control over the commission is something that he doesn't want, as he has told PNC members.

President Muizzu went on to say that if the bill were to reach the Independent Institutions Committee for review, that the bill be amended to seat a President for the commission from one of the seven members that are appointed.

"I, along with my administration, have absolutely no wishes to influence the media in any shape or form. The media should operate with complete freedom," said President Muizzu while speaking at Nolhivaranfaru earlier this week during his Haa Dhaalu Atoll visit.

"The media should have total freedom and transparency and should be run in a responsible manner."