Asma pulled from parliamentary committee she headed after drawing President’s ire

Central Maafannu MP Asma Rasheed, a member of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), has been removed from the Social Affairs Committee she previously headed, weeks after drawing the ire of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

The controversy stems from a text message Asma sent to her constituents on November 26, ahead of a public meeting President Muizzu is set to host with members of the Central Maafannu constituency on Thursday. In her message, Asma asked for people who wished to speak and share their opinion during the upcoming meeting to inform her beforehand.

The message sparked public backlash, with many seeing it as an attempt to silence dissent. Following the backlash, President Muizzu reportedly asked Asma to publicly apologize for the message. On November 28, Asma issued a statement saying that the message was taken out of context and apologized for “any misunderstanding.”

During Monday’s parliamentary sitting, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla announced a change made by the PNC to the composition of parliamentary committees.

He announced that Asma has been removed from the Social Affairs Committee – a committee in which she served as the chair – and replaced with Dhuvaafaru MP Mohamed Ali.

Abdul Raheem announced the change was made on October 28. However, it is likely that this was a slip of tongue, and he meant to say November.

He did not provide a reason for the change.

With her removal from the Social Affairs Committee, Asma now sits only in the Housing Committee.

In her November 28 statement, Asma said that her message was meant to ensure that the concerns of constituents who do not get the chance to speak directly with the President during Thursday’s meeting are shared with him.

Earlier the same day, President’s spokesperson Heena Waleed said that questions to him do not need pre-screening.

And in a message to a WhatsApp group of PNC parliamentarians, President Muizzu urged parliamentarians against such action.

The decision to pull Asma from the Social Affairs Committee comes amid rumors that she is being “punished” by President Muizzu over the message.