MPs slam BroadCom for trying to protect 'private interests'
MP Ahmed Shiyam moved a resolution in Tuesday’s session expressing concern over BroadCom’s amendments to the rebroadcasting rules.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
Broadcasting Commission (BroadCom) on Tuesday faced the ire of MPs for amending the rebroadcast rules to benefit what they called a particular party.
As per the rules amended by BroadCom recently:
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Only companies completely owned by Maldivians will be allowed to rebroadcast in the Maldives
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With the amendment, only the private company MediaNet will now be allowed to rebroadcast
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The amendment will take away rebroadcasting permission from Dhiraagu, the second largest broadcasting company after MediaNet; Dhiraagu is disqualified for rebroadcasting rights because Bahrain's Batelco is the majority shareholder in Dhiraagu.
PPM MP representing Naifaru constituency, Ahmed Shiyam, moved a resolution in Tuesday’s session expressing concern over BroadCom’s amendments to the rebroadcasting rules.
MP Shiyam said:
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The government and independent institutions are working in such a way that the business of the operators of broadcasting services in the Maldives is being wiped out and a certain group of people are benefitting
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He proposed a parliamentary inquiry to find out the hurdles faced by these impacting businesses
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While most of the members who debated the resolution today supported it, they believed that the amendment would help MediaNet "monopolise" the broadcasting sector.
During the debate on the resolution, Thulusdhoo MP Ibrahim Naseem said that people can be served at affordable prices by creating a competitive environment for the companies providing such services.
Naseem said that as per the current rules, only one company can influence the entire broadcasting sector.
"It is against the interpretations of the law," he said.
"This is a regulation that destroys businesses. These are rules that undermine investor confidence and the values of the country."
Velidhoo MP Mohamed Abdulla Shafeeq said that some of the clauses contained in the rebroadcasting rules also contradicted the purposes for which the regulation was framed in the first place. He pointed out:
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The objectives of the regulation were to create a competitive environment through which the people could avail the service at affordable prices and to lay down policies that would not allow a particular group to control the service
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However, the regulation does not serve its purpose as it allows only 100% local-owned companies to rebroadcast
"Let me tell you that this has been done to benefit a particular section of people, as stated in this resolution," the MP said.
While most of the members who debated the resolution demanded immediate repeal of the rules, others demanded that the resolution be sent to the standing committee for further study.
