MDP president: New bill aimed at suppressing press freedom, covering up gov incompetence

Abdulla Shahid, the president of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), criticized a new media bill presented to the Parliament on Wednesday, alleging that the legislature is aimed at suppressing hard-won press freedom in the Maldives.

The Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission Bill is designed to create a new media commission by merging the Maldives Broadcasting Commission and the Maldives Media Council. It also introduces fines of up to MVR 10,000 for reporters.

The government bill is sponsored by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdulla Hannan, who got elected as an independent.

In a post on X on Wednesday morning, Shahid expressed deep concern over the legislature, warning that it undermines hard-won freedom of expression and press freedom.

“The submission of a bill by the government to the Parliament to suppress and lock down the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press that was won through sweat and blood is deeply alarming,” he said.

Shahid alleged that the motivation behind the bill is to cover up “the incompetence and acts of corruption” of government leaders.

“We keep seeing more and more characteristics of autocracy with each passing day,” he added.

ދަލާއި ލޭ އޮހޮރުވައިގެން ހޯދި ޚިޔާލު ފާޅުކުރުމާއި ނޫސްވެރިކަމުގެ މިނިވަންކަން އޮބަހައްޓައި ތަޅު އެޅުވޭ ގޮތަށް ސަރުކާރުގެ ފަރާތުން މަޖިލީހަށް ބިލެއް ހުށަހެޅުމަކީ އިންތިހާ އަށް ކަންބޮޑުވާ ކަމެއް. އެފަދަ ބިލެއް ހުށަހެޅީ، ވެރީންގެ ނާޤާބިލުކަމާއި ފަސާދައިގެ ޢަމަލުތައް ފަރުދާކުރަން.…

— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) November 13, 2024

The new bill will create a seven-member Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission. Four of the members, including the president and vice president of the commission, will be appointed by the president with parliamentary approval. The remaining three members will be elected by broadcasters and medias.

The bill also sets down guidelines for broadcasters and medias, including safeguarding national security, promoting principles of upholding the legitimate government, and protecting the dignity and private affairs of individuals.

The new commission will be charged with formulating the code of ethics for medias and journalists, the violation of which can be punishable with fines, suspension of license and demands for public apologies.

Repeated violation of the code of ethics will be punishable with fines of MVR 5,000 to MVR 50,000 for medias, and fines of MVR 5,000 to MVR 10,000 for individual journalists.