AG submits 13 amendments to media regulation bill
This is the second attempt to pass similar legislation, after a previous version was enacted amid criticism.
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The Attorney General’s Office has proposed 13 amendments to the Media Regulation Bill currently under review by the Parliamentary Independent Institutions Committee.
The bill, which seeks to establish a government-appointed commission with powers over media outlets, journalists, and social media users, is being considered while Parliament remains in recess. Committee meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday were held in secret.
The proposed amendments include deletions, revisions, and new provisions. Among the key changes are:
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Removing the President’s role in appointing or dismissing commission members and its chairperson.
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Requiring commission members not to belong to a political party.
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Allowing voters who elected members to remove them for breaches of eligibility.
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Removing provisions for action against individual journalists and media workers.
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Ensuring annual state budget allocations for commission expenses.
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Replacing powers to suspend media outlets pending investigations with alternative procedures.
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Revising definitions of public order, national security, and electronic media.
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Strengthening obligations for fair, transparent and accurate reporting.
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Introducing an interim adjudication committee to handle complaints.
Other changes include ensuring editors of media outlets meet commission standards, clarifying rules for disclosure of information in the public interest, and elaborating on personal privacy protections.
The committee has so far received objections from all stakeholders consulted, including the Maldives Media Council and the Broadcasting Commission (BroadCom). Last week, journalists from 22 registered media outlets also presented their concerns, while the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) called for a parliamentary study on the Media Council system.
The bill was introduced by MP Abdul Hannan Abubakar with the support of Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim. This is the second attempt to pass similar legislation, after a previous version was enacted amid criticism.
Journalists have protested the new bill, staging demonstrations outside the President’s Office and Muliaage. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu met with senior journalists last week, but Attorney General Ahmed Usham later announced that the government would not withdraw the bill as requested.
