Parliament to amend rules on access to sittings, committees

The Parliament will amend its Rules of Procedure to set out new regulations on access to sittings and committee meetings and introduce measures against those who violate the rules.

The announcement came after Parliament passed the Media Regulation Bill on Tuesday with 60 votes in favour during an extraordinary sitting. The bill, passed by members of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), has drawn criticism from journalists and civil society organisations.

Following the vote, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim said he had received a report from the Sergeant at Arms, which stated that individuals allowed into the committee stage of the bill had acted in ways that obstructed the committee’s work.

Nazim said the matter will be referred to the General Committee of Parliament, which will propose amendments to the Rules of Procedure.

“It is a directive to amend the Rules of Procedure to prevent such a recurrence and to set out the rules to be followed by those attending the House as guests, and to establish in the Rules of Assembly the action to be taken if the attendees violate them,” he said.

Journalists who attended the committee sessions while the bill was under consideration said they had not interfered with the proceedings. They stated that their presence was to express concerns about the bill and to call for the withdrawal of the proposed amendments, which they said did not address their petition. Members of the Petitions Committee also raised concerns over the process.

In addition to journalists, disruptions were also reported among parliamentarians. Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir and Thoddoo MP Hussain Sameer were speaking when Henveiru South MP Hussain Imran Latheef damaged a committee microphone.

Under current rules, committee sessions are open to journalists, the public and foreign observers. The rules specify that access is arranged under the responsibility of the Sergeant at Arms but do not outline actions against those who disrupt proceedings.