Some media bill provisions unacceptable: Asward

There are many things that cannot be agreed upon in the Media Regulation Bill submitted to parliament, Youth Minister Ibrahim Waheed (Asward) told journalists today.

Waheed, a former journalist, appeared alongside President's Office Minister for Strategic Communication, Ibrahim Khaleel, at Media Fenda – a press stand outside the President’s Office.

He said he “loved journalism” and disagreed with several aspects of the bill, although he did not elaborate on them despite repeated questions.

“I will go to parliament to talk about this bill. I will go to talk about addressing the concerns,” he said.

“If there’s a mistake in the bill, I want to correct it.”

Journalists also pressed Waheed on remarks made in Parliament yesterday by PNC Parliamentary Group leader and Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah, who said journalists should not be jailed but “impaled” instead.

“Those are not comments that I have made,” Waheed said.

Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) condemned Falah’s remarks and called on him to apologize, saying calls for journalists to be put to death were “an attempt to intimidate and encourage violence against journalists and the media”.

The media control bill was passed in parliament on Wednesday as journalists gathered outside to protest. Police used force to disperse demonstrators near the President’s Office, detaining several reporters before releasing them shortly after.

Protesters later rallied outside the Presidential Palace, Mulee Aage, demanding to meet President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to raise their concerns.

The Media Regulation Bill, submitted by independent MP Abdul Hannan of Thulhaadhoo constituency, passed with 49 votes from ruling PNC members in an extraordinary sitting. Twelve MPs voted against.