Parliament member for Feydhoo North, Ismail Nizar of the People’s National Congress (PNC), has called lawmakers to speed up the passage of the new media bill after reports surfaced linking him to MPs who missed the deadline to submit financial statements.
Earlier this week, parliament published the financial records of 88 out of 93 MPs. Five were absent from the list, and while the parliamentary office did not reveal names, its official website shows the missing MPs as Ahmed Zameer, Mohamed Nazim, Mohamed Musthafa Ibrahim, Mohamed Shamin Habeeb, and Ismail Nizar.
In response, Nizar posted on social media questioning why media outlets had given unusual focus to the matter. He stressed that publishing MPs’ financial details is a regular process and that rules already exist to deal with those who do not comply.
Nizar criticized some coverage, saying it was presented in a way that could mislead the public. He then called for parliament to speed up work on the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, which is still being reviewed in committee.
Under current rules, MPs must submit their annual financial statements by the end of August. Members of the 20th Parliament, sworn in May 2024, faced their first deadline on August 31 this year.
The media bill, supported by pro-government MPs, has been strongly opposed by journalists’ groups at home and abroad. The Maldives Media Council and the Maldives Journalists Association say the proposed law threatens free press, could place news outlets under government control, and would allow new tools to pressure journalists.
