MP moves to withdraw media commission bill
President Muizzu stated that the bill would not be passed in the Progressive National Congress (PNC)-majority parliament.
Independent Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Abubakr on Tuesday initiated the process to withdraw the Media Commission Bill, a proposal that would grant the government significant control over the media.
Hannan introduced the bill in parliament last week, seeking to dissolve the existing Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom) and Maldives Media Council (MMC) and establish a new Media Commission with government-appointed majority representation.
The proposal raised concerns among journalists and media organisations, prompting widespread opposition and the launch of a campaign.
In response to the campaign and growing dissent, President Mohamed Muizzu stated that the bill would not be passed in the Progressive National Congress (PNC)-majority parliament. Following the president’s remarks, Hannan decided to withdraw the proposal.
When contacted by Atoll Times, Hannan confirmed the decision.
"I have moved the parliament [to withdraw the bill]. I decided to do so because I knew the bill would not go forward [with the president's statement] so as not to waste the time of the parliament," Hannan said.
Although an independent parliamentarian, Hannan often aligns with the government's stance during debates. He previously forwarded a bill to ban Israeli passports, which the PNC members aimed to pass by February.
The Media Commission Bill proposed significant changes to media regulation. It included provisions to abolish the MMC and Broadcom, replacing them with a new Media Commission with the authority to impose large fines on journalists and media outlets. The composition of the commission outlined in the bill provided for seven members, four of whom would be appointed by the president with parliamentary approval, while three would be elected by the media.
