Parliament adjourned amid discord

Today’s sitting of the parliament was adjourned following disagreement amongst members over the composition of the Standing Committees of the parliament.

The sitting was brought to a halt by opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs calling for points of order, after MDP MP Rozaina Adam recalled the Medical Negligence Bill saying that she prefers to review the bill and does not wish to waste time by waiting for the parliament to get the standing committees in order.

Speaker of the Parliament Abdulla Maseeh said that in the absence of standing committees, the parliament may assemble a select committee to review bills.

Speaker Maseeh adjourned today’s sitting to negotiate the Standing Committees' issue with leaders of the parties. He also said that the final composition of the Standing Committees will be scheduled for vote for the sitting on Monday.

At the sitting today, MDP MPs expressed frustration over the composition of the Standing Committees and said the current composition compromises the parliament's ability to hold the government accountable.

Compositions of the 13 standing committees in parliament were decided by a five-member select committee last Monday, with 11 members in each committee and the ruling coalition holding majority of seven major committees.

Defending their claim to majority in the committees, ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MPs said in parliament today that the majority party in parliament commands a certain degree of respect.