Cabinet approval postponed over incomplete report, returned to committee

Speaker Mohamed Aslam chairs a parliamentary sitting. (Photo/People's Majlis)

Parliament, on Monday, citing the report formulated the by committee following their review of the motion on granting approval to the cabinet of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to be incomplete, has sent back the motion to the committee.

The approval of the cabinet was on the agenda of Monday’s sitting.

Once Speaker Mohamed Aslam, who was presiding over the sitting, announced the agenda, Thulhaadhoo MP Hisan Hussain took a point of order during which she pointed out that the committee’s report on granting approval to the cabinet was incomplete. Therefore, she said she does not believe a vote can be asked for at today’s sitting, on the approval.

“Because the report is incomplete, I do not believe a vote can be asked on such a report,” she had said.

MP Hisan said the current administration has not submitted the mandates of the ministries for approval of the parliament despite 30 days having passed since the new ministries were established which has deprived the parliament of reviewing the mandates during the committee stage.

In this trajectory, she said the committee’s report, while without review of the mandates, does not also detail why they see it fit to grant approval or not grant approval to the individuals and to fulfill what responsibilities.

She also noted that committees must make a definitive decision regarding motions forwarded to the respective committee for review as per Article 200 of the parliament’s regulations.

“Whether the committee sees it okay for the parliament to approve or not. The committee’s report on the agenda has not come to a conclusion on either of the options,” she added.

MP Hisan, who has served as the president of the Judicial Service Commission, said a vote can only be asked on the floor once the committee has made a definitive decision. Citing these reasons, she said she does not believe a vote can be asked for on granting approval for the cabinet ministers on the account of the report presently put forth.

Speaker Aslam decided to accept the point of order following which he held discussions with the parliament’s majority and minority leaders on the matter.

After the discussions, Speaker Aslam announced that the committee’s report lacked the requirements stipulated in Article 200 of the parliament’s regulation. In light of this, he decided to send back the motion to the committee.

Following Speaker Aslam’s decision, ruling PNC’s parliament group leader, Fonadhoo MP Moosa Siraj took a point of order. Expressing discontent, MP Siraj said he does not believe the speaker of the parliament make a decision regarding a motion, adding a vote needs to be asked on the floor for the purpose.

PPM’s Mahibadhoo MP Mohamed Thoriq also expressed concern over the matter, seconding MP Siraj’s remarks.

“After commencing a sitting, the honorable speaker cannot omit or change something on agenda or conclude forward something to the committee,” he said.

He also affirmed that a vote needs to be asked on the floor, to send back the motion to the committee.

Nevertheless, Speaker Aslam said a decision has already been made.

“Because the report does adhere to the requirements set down in the parliament’s regulations. If it had, I would obviously not be talking about redoing the report,” he said.

As members representing the government coalition continued to express discontent – Speaker Aslam moved forward with the remaining matters on the agenda.

Main opposition MDP holds the majority in the parliament while PPM-PNC, the government coalition, has only four members.

The new administration, with three new ministries, has a total of 22 ministries.

The Cabinet: