Media bill on MP's own opinion; govt study on, minister says
For journalists, the bill includes provisions to address violations of the commission’s code of conduct.
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The bill proposing the merger of the Maldives Media Council (MMC) and the Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom) under government oversight is under review, with its contents yet to receive formal backing from the government, Information and Arts Minister Ibrahim Waheed said Wednesday.
The Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission Bill was introduced by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan, an independent parliamentarian aligned with the government. The proposal aligns with the government’s legislative agenda but, according to Ibrahim Waheed, represents the MP’s own views and is not a government-endorsed initiative.
"The media bill is not a government bill. It is a bill submitted by MP [Abdul Hannan] based on his personal views. We are studying the contents of the bill," Ibrahim Waheed said in response to questions from Atoll Times.
Ibrahim Waheed acknowledged that the government supports the consolidation of MMC and Broadcom but refrained from fully endorsing the proposed legislation until further review is completed.
"We also have the intention of merging the Broadcasting Commission and the MMC. We are working on this; however, the bill is the member’s own initiative," he explained.
The bill, currently accessible on the parliament's website, outlines provisions to establish the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission. It proposes a seven-member structure comprising four government-appointed members and three media-elected members, thereby providing the government with a majority.
The president would appoint both the chairperson and the vice-chairperson from among the commission members, pending parliamentary approval.
The bill also details penalties and regulatory measures for media entities and journalists, should they violate a code of conduct set by the commission. The proposed measures include:
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License revocation: Repeated violations of laws and regulations could result in the revocation of broadcasting licenses or publication registrations, as determined by the court.
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Fines for broadcasters: Broadcasters repeatedly violating laws and codes of conduct may face fines up to 10% of their previous year’s income.
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Newspaper fines: Newspapers may be fined between MVR 5,000 and MVR 50,000 for repeated non-compliance with the code of conduct.
For journalists, the bill includes provisions to address violations of the commission’s code of conduct. If a violation is not rectified within a stipulated period, a fine of between MVR 5,000 and MVR 10,000 may be imposed.
Ibrahim Waheed refrained from explicitly endorsing the proposed penalties, indicating that these aspects still require thorough analysis.
"We have to study it—what is in it and whether it aligns with our position," he stated, without committing to a direct answer.
