Regulation amended to require ties to be worn at Parliament

Parliament Regulations have been amended to require ties to be worn by all male MP's, with casual attire being prohibited.

The General Committee's first report that was submitted regarding ties was that it was not required to wear one. However, it has been amended during today's sitting.

The amendment that stated four types of attire can only be allowed in Parliament sittings was submitted by Faresmaathoda MP Ashraf Rasheed, with it being passed by 47 members voting in favor of it.

As per the appendix that was added into the regulations, any sitting other than the President's Speech sittings require three types of attire:

The appendix states that female MP's are to attend Parliament sittings in official attire that does not go against the common law of Maldives. This also applies to President's Speech sittings, along with attire such as suit and trousers as an option.

Those who are in violation of the aforementioned will have steps taken against them under Article 71 of the Parliament Regulations.

The highest punishment described in the article is being deprived of attending Parliament sittings and committee meetings.

As per the reform, those who are not MP's who attend Parliament are to also abide by the regulation.

Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla made the submission regarding what the official attire of MP's should be as there was a time when three MDP members had attended Parliament sittings without their ties as a form of protest.

The MP's in question are Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyadh (Fittey), Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir and North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudoo). However, Mohamed Ibrahim reversed course on his decision and began attending sittings while wearing a tie.