Z Faction vows to interrupt Majlis meetings over SC composition dispute

The “Z Faction” of the Divehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), main opposition in the Maldives, has warned that they would interrupt and stop every meeting of the People’s Majlis unless the long-disputed issue of Standing Committee composition was settled in accordance with the Majlis rules of procedure.

The “Z Faction” held a press conference today, and claimed that chairs in the Standing Committees in the People’s Majlis have been allocated among members of the Majlis in contravention to the agreement among parliamentary group leaders. MP Ahmed Ilham, who represents Gemanafushi Constituency in the Majlis, and who has been one of the prominent figures in the Z Faction of DRP, said that names of members for the Committees were nominated for election at the meeting held last night for the purpose without giving any details of how it would be done. He also said that the whole thing was carried out in a way that gave control of the Committee on Security Services, Committee on National Security and Committee on Economic Affairs to the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

“Names for committees were nominated in blatant disregard of the agreement among the Parliamentary Group (PG) Leaders. The problem is that the meeting had been held in contravention to the rules, and we also question how only two chairs were allocated in the 241 Committee (Committee on Security Services) for DRP and PA (People’s Alliance which has long been in alliance with DRP). The same goes with the Committee on National Security and the Committee on Economic Affairs”, said Ilham. He then warned that the Z Faction would not tolerate these actions against the rules of procedure and that they would not allow Majlis meetings to continue until the rules are properly observed.

MP Ali Arif, who represents Vaikaradhoo Constituency, said that four seats in the Committee on Security Services, which held the security forces including the police accountable, were given to MDP members, while only two were allocated for DRP/PA. He also said that one seat in the Committee was allocated for Jumhooree Party and Qawmee Party each, and three seats were given to independents. Independents elected for the Committee are MP Ibrahim Riza, representing Guraidhoo Constituency, MP Ali Mohamed, representing Velidhoo Constituency, and MP Ismail Abdul Hameed, representing Kaashidoo Constituency. Of these, MP Ali Mohamed and MP Ismail Abdul Hameed have been accused of “working for the ruling party disguised as independents.”

The Z Faction also expressed concern about the composition of Committee on Economic Affairs. As per the elections held last night, the Committee comprises of five members from MDP, five members from DRP/PA/Jumhoory Party and Qawmee Party, and one independent. Independent member elected for the Committee was MP Ismail Abdul Hameed, who, according to the Z Faction, was working with MDP. The Z Faction and other opposition MPs have claimed that the PG Leaders had agreed to nominate the name of MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed for the seat allocated for independent members in this Committee and that the name of MP Ismail was nominated for election last night in violation of the agreement. However, the Majlis Secretariat has denied the claim.