Parliament, during Tuesday’s sitting, accepted the bill to amend the Public Service Media Act.
The amendment, which proposed to accord the power of electing and dismissing members of PSM's governing board solely to the president, was accepted unanimously by all 32 lawmakers present at the sitting.
Opposition has been boycotting parliamentary sittings after it was resumed for the second session. Thus, all 32 lawmakers were of ruling coalition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).
Parliament Speaker Abdulla Maseeh had forwarded the amendment bill to the Independent Institutions Committee of the parliament, after the bill was accepted.
The amendment bill proposed by Hoarafushi MP Mohamed Ismail also dictated a change to the number of members on PSM's governing board from seven to five members. It further stated that upon recommendation of names by the president, the Privatisation Board must form the directors' board in a period of 10 days.
The board will consist of a Chairman, Managing Director, and Deputy Managing Directors.
According to the current Public Service Media Act, members of the governing board will be appointed by the parliament based on recommendations of the President.
The Public Service Media Act also dictates that the state media must be run independently and justly, free of all influence.
Feydhoo MP Ibrahim Didi had also proposed a bill of amendments to the Penal Code during Tuesday's sitting. The bill was also accepted unanimously and passed to the relevant committee for further review.
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