Amendment passed amid protest by opposition MPs

The first sitting of the third session of the People’s Majlis was carried out this Monday morning despite protest by opposition parliamentarians inside the Majlis chamber.

Parliamentarians heard the General Purpose Committee’s review of the amendment proposed to Article 207 of People’s Majlis Regulation by Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed, and voted on the amendment.

The General Purpose Committee added three clauses to Article 207 – “Establishing Relations with International Agencies and Parliaments”.

(b) No more than 15 parliamentarians per group can be selected from those who volunteer for Parliamentary Friendship Groups which People’s Majlis establish relations with. If the number of parliamentarians who volunteer exceed 15, members will be selected based on the overall percentage of each political party represented in the Majlis.

(c) Parliamentarians should be informed in writing or through an SMS every time a Friendship Group needs to be established. Parliamentarians who wish to me members of the groups need to inform the Speaker.

(d) Each Friendship Group can compile policies and regulations on how it will be carrying out its work.

55 parliamentarians participated in the sitting, and the amendment, with the additional clauses recommended by the General Purpose Committee passed with the vote of 28 parliamentarians.

The sitting was carried out with opposition parliamentarians calling out for Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed’s resignation from behind the newly constructed 5-foot wooden fence surrounding the Speaker.

Addressing the Majlis after the vote, Speaker Maseeh said the Majlis was being concluded with the agenda for the day fulfilled.

The date for the next Majlis sitting was not announced.