The article in the Standing Orders provision barring petitions from being repeatedly submitted to Parliament was repealed to give citizens greater opportunity to submit proposals, said Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla in response to opposition MPs.

Speaker Abdul Raheem responded to South Galolhu Constituency MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem during the debate regarding the petition opposing an amendment proposed to the Decentralization Act to allow land under council jurisdiction to be taken back by the state for development projects. During the petition, Meekail said that while the Parliament prepares to debate a submission from the public, there are efforts from the government to disrupt the debate and not allow it to be held.

In response to Meekail, Abdul Raheem said that Meekail that he was debating a petition submitted by the public. As per Parliament guidelines, a petition that passes 2,100 signatures will be debated upon on the Parliament floor. The debate that was held during today's Parliament sitting was regarding the first petition that passed that threshold.

"We are noticing that while we are preparing to debate on a matter that was submitted to Parliament by the public, the supermajority government is working to derail the debate and to put a stop to it," said Meekail.

He alleged that the Standing Orders of the Parliament were abruptly amended so the ruling party could submit a petition. He questioned the purpose of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) supermajority Parliament acting in this way.

“The honorable member would know that a debate was held on a petition submitted by the public. While debating the petition, you are saying there is opposition to debating the petition. I believe this amounts to an attempt to confuse the public,” Abdul Raheem said.

Speaker Abdul Raheem said the amendment to Parliament’s Standing Orders was not intended to benefit the PNC alone, but to provide the same opportunities to everyone.

"Everyone will be given an opportunity," said Abdul Raheem.

The Parliament regulations were amended on Tuesday to allow petitions on the same matter or issue to be submitted to Parliament repeatedly.

Following the amendment, a petition calling for the Decentralisation Act amendment to be passed as proposed has gathered enough signatures to become a special petition, which requires it to be debated on the floor of Parliament.