MPs voice opposition to media regulation bill

Several members of Parliament voiced opposition on Wednesday to the proposed Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, which seeks to establish a new commission to regulate the media.

The extraordinary sitting saw criticism not only from the opposition but also from some members of the ruling Progressive National Congress (PNC).

Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyad from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) described the bill as a measure that would limit press freedom. He argued that the legislation effectively grants the President the power to define what constitutes false information.

Ziyad said the government, which benefited from media coverage during the election, is now attempting to restrict that same avenue. He warned that the bill could result in unintended consequences, including the emergence of more unregulated platforms and fake accounts.

Fuvahmulah South MP Ibrahim Hussain from PNC said that instead of creating new structures to control the media, Parliament should strengthen existing bodies such as the Maldives Media Council and the Broadcasting Commission. He argued that regulatory reforms should focus on empowering legally registered outlets rather than driving audiences towards unregulated sources.

Hulhumalé South MP Dr Ahmed Shamheed from MDP said the bill contradicts international best practices. Citing global examples, he noted that print media is often self-regulated. While supporting cost-cutting through merging existing commissions, he cautioned against provisions that could allow authorities to halt media operations under vague terms such as “national security.”

Former journalist and Dhiyares newspaper owner Ahmed Azaan Marzooq from PNC warned that such laws could be misused by future administrations. He expressed concern over provisions allowing suspension of media licences.

Some PNC members defended the bill, saying media operations must respect Islamic Sharia and social norms. They argued that unregulated media content was harmful to social cohesion.

The bill is expected to be put to a vote later today. Journalists have staged protests against it, with the Maldives Journalists Association and international press freedom organisations also calling for its withdrawal.