The Parliament's Security Services Committee has decided to investigate the details of last Thursday's fire in the Tin Building, which housed the Housing and Construction Ministries, and its spread to the adjacent Green Building, accommodating to the Environment Ministry.
The committee is scheduled to meet at 10 am on Thursday at the request of Eydhafushi Constituency's PNC Member Ahmed Saleem (Red Wave Saleem), who also chairs the committee. Relevant personnel of the Ministry of Defence and Maldives Police Service are to be questioned in the meeting that day.
While MDP's Parliamentary Group, in a press conference yesterday said that the fire spread to the adjacent Green Building due to the negligence of the MNDF firefighters, the party also requested the Parliamentary Security Services Committee to investigate the incident.
A member of the Security Services Committee said Home Minister Ali Ihusan gave answers regarding the fire incident to the committee in a meeting held on Thursday evening. However, the member did not share the details of the meeting with the media as it was held behind closed doors.
MDP also said at yesterday's press conference that they plan to request an emergency session of parliament to discuss the fire in two buildings that housed three ministries and an office of the Malé City Council. However, MDP does not have enough signatures to hold an emergency session. An emergency session of the parliament can only be held if a motion is signed by at least 31 MPs. However, there are 12 MDP MPs in the parliament.
MDP Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Nazil said yesterday that MNDF was severely negligent in the fire spreading to the Green Building, and both buildings being unusable. As such, the party has decided to take the matter to the National Integrity Commission (NIC), he said.
Police Commissioner Ali Shujau said yesterday that the investigation into the fire is ongoing and the assistance of an international body will be sought.
The Housing Ministry, Construction Ministry and Environment Ministry have been temporarily shfted to Dharubaaruge in the meantime.
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