Mauroof: Parliament passing bills without debate or review; this is the bitter result

An opposition lawmaker on Wednesday slammed the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) for wielding its supermajority in the Parliament to pass government bills without proper review or debate, stating that the country was experiencing the bitter results of such decisions.

The remarks by Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir, a politician from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), came after the Parliament heard a letter from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu explaining the reason why he rejected a landmark organ transplant bill was passed by the legislature on May 14

President Muizzu explained his concerns stemmed from the Parliament’s decision to remove provisions in the original bill drafted by the Attorney General’s Office which barred individuals in state custody, or any individual serving a prison sentence or was detained on suspicion of committing a crime from donating their organs.

He said he does not believe incarcerated individuals can provide truly voluntary, coercion-free consent.

Referring to the President’s letter, Mauroof slammed parliamentary committees for failure to properly review bills sent by the government.

He said that instead of properly reviewing or debating on bills, the PNC-dominated Parliament is busy calling and appeasing government ministers, and trying to rush bills.

We are seeing the bitter results of this today, he said.

Mauroof said that the state of affairs was such that some people were already ready to extract human organs before relevant laws and regulations are enacted.

“Committees are failing to conduct proper reviews. They do not summon relevant officials. There’s no one who can even speak during committees. There’s no one who can utter a word at the floor unless they are permitted to do so,” he said.