Four members appointed to the media slots on Media Commission

Four members to the Media and Broadcasting Commission, elected by media outlets, were appointed today under the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act, which came into effect last month.

The Media Commission Act stipulates that seven members must be elected to the Commission. Four of these seven members must be elected through an election held by the Elections Commission among media outlets. However, since an adequate number of candidates did not apply for these specific slots, the four individuals were elected uncontested, without the need for a formal election.

The four members appointed to the Media Commission today are:

·         Abdul Azeez Ibrahim – Moonimaage, Sh. Feydhoo

·         Zam’ath Ahmed Waheed – Mala, Gdh. Thinadhoo

·         Simaha Naseem – Veleegey, Gdh. Rathaafandhoo

·         Hussain Sageef – Hisaan, Hd. Vaikaradhoo

Notably, Sageef previously served as the last President of the Maldives Media Council.

The Media Commission Act, which came into force on the 18th of last month, also mandates that the People's Majlis (Parliament) determine the remaining three members of the seven-member Media Commission. Following the Parliament Secretariat invitation for nominations for these three slots, ten individuals submitted their candidacies. This group includes some former members of the Broadcasting Commission and the Maldives Media Council.

The 10 individuals who submitted their names for the three slots to be appointed by the Parliament are:

1.      Fathimath Fahumee, Seenaree, Gdh. Madaveli (Former Member of the Media Council)

2.      Mohamed Farshath, H. Twohearts (Former Secretary General of the Media Council and Former Member of the CSC)

3.      Sofa Shafeeq, Billoorivilla, Dh.Meedhoo (Former President of BroadCom)

4.      Aminath Sarahath Izzath, G.Gofi (Former Member of BroadCom)

5.      Ibrahim Mohamed, G.Wind (Former Vice President of the Media Council)

6.      Moosa Rilwan, M. Havila (Former Member of BroadCom)

7.      Faris Thoha, H.Sosun (A candidate whose name was recently submitted to the Parliament for the HRCM but did not receive approval)

8.      Shehnaz Adnan, Daftharu No. R.S. 8580

9.      Mohamed Shamin, Finivaage, AA.Thoddoo

10.  Shafeega Naeem, Beachside, F. Nilandhoo

The Parliament has not yet finalized the appointments from these 10 candidates. After announcing their names at today’s sitting, the matter has been forwarded to the relevant committee for review.

Among the candidates for the Parliament appointed slots are Sofa Shafeeq, the last President of BroadCom (Broadcasting Commission), and Ibrahim Mohamed, the former Vice President of the Maldives Media Council (which was dissolved with the enactment of the new media regulation law). Mohamed Farshath, who previously served as the Media Council's Secretary General, also submitted his candidacy.