MPs defy MDP whip to accept drug regulation motion
He began his speech by expressing concern over a whip issued by the party's parliamentary group to reject the plea he made.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
Parliament on Monday began a debate on an emergency motion filed against the regulation that allows foreigners to be deported to their home countries if drugs were found in their possession, despite a three-line whip by the ruling MDP, which controls the parliament, to vote against accepting the motion filed by MDP MP Hassan Latheef from Henveiru West constituency.
In Monday’s vote in parliament on the acceptance of the motion:
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24 MPs voted to accept the motion
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Only 16 lawmakers voted to expel it
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There was only one MP who did not vote in a particular way
Hassan Latheef had moved the emergency motion in parliament after drugs worth MVR 6.5 million were seized from the luggage of a man who had arrived in the Maldives via Doha, Qatar, on February 6 and then sent away the person who brought it to the Maldives. In the emergency case, Hassan pointed out:
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It is the party's policy to put in place a robust mechanism to nab and punish those involved in smuggling and peddling drugs and implement it
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Against the party's policy, the government has framed rules to allow foreigners who smuggle drugs to do the business easily, without fear and encourages them to do so
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As per the regulations, drugs can be smuggled in to the Maldives easily
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This opens up the possibility of large drug trafficking networks making the country a destination for that trade and putting the state and its citizens at risk
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Even if this is the case in the regulations, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act makes it an offence to engage in trafficking in any form
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Law and regulation in conflict
Hasan Latheef was the first to debate the issue after the vote. He began his speech by expressing concern over a whip issued by the party's parliamentary group to reject the plea.
Hassan said the PG had issued a whip to dismiss the case because of "ideological differences". He added that the MPs who issued such a whip will not act in a manner that will support the government on any issue.
"Those who issued the red whipline to reject the issue because I have submitted my proposal and my ideology is in a certain way do not really want to act in a way that will make it easier for the government in anything and encourage what this government is doing," Hassan said.
Maafannu North MP Imthiyaz Fahmy described the issuance of a whip to dismiss the emergency motion as a "movement to abolish the creation of an accountable state". He said it was a "very serious" matter.
Whip issued only after complaint was filed without discussion with PG: Aslam
Responding to the lawmakers who spoke out against the whip issued by MDP, party's PG leader and Hithadhoo North MP Mohamed Aslam said that Hassan raised the issue in the parliament without the consent of the group. In cases filed without the consent of the PGs, that is how it goes, he said.
"In respect of the emergency case filed, the parliamentary group acted in accordance with the procedure adopted by the parliamentary group. This is in line with the parliamentary group's decision to reject proposals issued without the consent of the parliamentary group," Aslam said.
Pointing out that the MPs did not turn up for the PG meeting at 10.30 am, Aslam also shared his concerns regarding the emergency. Thus:
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In the emergency case, he expressed concern over the fact that the regulations open up the possibility of drug trafficking in the Maldives easily and that it is illegal
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Aslam believes that if it is illegal, it can be challenged in court; not parliament
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PG leadership doesn't believe that regulations have been made illegally
