MMC backs merging with Broadcom
MMC and the Broadcom are two institutions that do almost the same work.
The Maldives Media Council (MMC) has asked the Independent Institutions Committee of the Parliament to amend the existing Media Council Act as soon as possible even if by merging MMC with the Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom).
The MMC said this at a meeting of the Independent Institutions Committee of Parliament on Wednesday. At the committee meeting held on Tuesday, Broadcom also requested the merger of the two institutions.
Responding to various questions raised at the meeting, MMC members repeatedly said that the current law is outdated and 'old' and is not fit to perform the functions of the council to the fullest extent under it and should be amended as soon as possible.
The commission also noted some of the work done by the MMC for this purpose. These include:
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After a lot of research, the amendments to the law have been drafted in the form of a bill and submitted to the AG's office and parliament in the last government
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MMC also met with Attorney General Ahmed Usham to discuss the bill; the Attorney general said a new bill is being worked on and the law will be amended
The MMC and Broadcom have drafted a bill in 2022 to create a single commission to regulate the media. The bill would give the newly created commission substantial powers that are not available under the Media Council Act.
In addition to the lack of adequate enforcement powers, some have also expressed concern that there are legal conflicts between the MMC and Broadcom under the current Media Council Act.
Replying to a question in the committee on the concerns, Media Council member and Public Relations Committee Chairman Ali Vishan said the Media Council Act also covers TVs and radio stations.
"This will cause legal conflicts. However, for example, if the council has received a broadcasting issue then it will get passed to the Broadcasting Commission. That is how we manage it mostly," he said.
According to Vishan, the MMC and the Broadcom are two institutions that do almost the same work. Therefore, the MMC also wants the two institutions to merge and to amend the law.
“Even most of the editor-level members in the media, and this council has repeatedly requested for it in the 19th and 18th parliaments, calling for an amendment to this law and merge the two commissions if it is the view of the members, to do it,” he said.
"Even by merging, to amend the law as soon as possible is what we are hoping for”.
Work on the merger of MMC and Broadcom was carried out through parliament in the last government. The Independent Institutions Committee appointed a three-member sub-committee to meet with media officials.
The committee also passed an amendment to the law in 2022 to merge the two institutions. However, the work has since stalled.
