Parliament launches online petition portal

The Parliament has launched an online petition portal, marking the first time petitions can be submitted digitally.

The portal was launched at a ceremony held at Parliament on Sunday. The event was attended by Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla and British Ambassador to the Maldives Nicholas Low.

In a press release issued after the launch, the Parliament said the portal is intended to support digital processes and public participation within the democratic framework.

According to the statement, the portal allows citizens to submit petitions online and provides information on the status and progress of petitions submitted to the Parliament.

The Parliament said signatures submitted through the portal and the identity of signatories will be verified using the eFaas system.

Previously, petitions were submitted through members of parliament. The statement noted that the new system reduces the need to rely on MPs for submission and allows citizens across the Maldives to submit petitions directly. It also said the system outlines procedures to be followed within the scope of parliamentary work.

The Parliament stated that, within the region, similar systems have been established only by the legislatures of Pakistan and Thailand.

The portal was developed through collaboration between the Parliament and the United Nations Development Programme, with support from the governments of the United Kingdom and Australia.