MMC urges President Muizzu not to approve Media Regulatory Bill

The Maldives Media Council (MMC) has formally requested President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu not to ratify the Media Regulatory Bill, recently passed by Parliament.

In a letter sent to the President, MMC expressed deep concern over the bill’s passage, which it says occurred without proper consideration of concerns raised by journalists and media broadcasters. Shortly after sending the letter, the council released a public statement outlining its position.

According to the statement, the process of amending the bill was meant to involve broad national participation and thorough consultation. However, MMC says these discussions were rushed and carried out only in name.

“....as a result, the council believes that the loss of an opportunity for proper consultation and fair debate will lead to serious issues,” the statement read.

MMC further warned that if the bill is ratified, it could undermine effective media regulation and instead be used as a means to control media outlets and broadcasters.

Parliament passed the bill yesterday despite ongoing protests from journalists and broadcasters alike. While some minor amendments proposed by media representatives were included, journalists continued to call for a complete withdrawal of the bill, arguing that it is fundamentally flawed and cannot be amended in a way that adequately protects press freedom.

Parliament passed the bill yesterday despite protests from journalists. While some minor amendments proposed by media representatives were included, journalists continued to call for a complete withdrawal of the bill, arguing that it is fundamentally flawed and cannot be amended in a way that adequately protects press freedom.