Home Minister Ali Ihusaan has urged Parliament to amend laws to protect the reputation and dignity of officers serving in the security services and other key state institutions.

Responding to a question from Kudahuvadhoo MP Hussain Hameed in Parliament on Tuesday, Ihusaan said public confidence in institutions such as the Maldives Police Service and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) should not be undermined for political purposes.

He said legal protections were currently insufficient and called on lawmakers to introduce measures to allow action against those who damage the reputation of the security services.

"I would like to ask you to amend the laws to take legal action against them. I would like to ask you to make laws and regulations to protect the reputation of the police and MNDF and this honorable Parliament," Ihusaan said.

Hameed had asked whether legal action could be taken against people who spread hatred towards the police and create unrest among the public.

Ihusaan said maintaining public confidence in the police and other state institutions should not become a political issue.

"Whatever the political ideology and whatever the government, the honor and dignity of these institutions must be upheld," he said.

The minister reiterated that there should be no political opportunity to undermine public trust in security services such as the police and MNDF.