Maumoon Hameed was rejected because coalition MPs were absent: PPM

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has said that Maumoon Hameed was rejected for the post of Prosecutor General (PG) at today’s parliament sitting because several MPs representing the coalition were absent.

Article 221 of the Constitution states the person appointed as PG by the president shall be approved by a majority of the total membership of the parliament.

Majority of the total membership of the parliament is 39, and the motion to appoint Maumoon Hameed as PG was voted in favour by 36 MPs in parliament today.

PPM Deputy Leader Abdul Raheem Abdulla said that four MPs representing the coalition are abroad and therefore did not attend today’s sitting.

The four MPs are Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) Leader Meedhoo MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, Vilimaafannu MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik, Gemanafushi MP Ilham Ahmed, and Mathiveri MP Mohamed Hussain.

Abdul Raheem said that a decision will be made on whether to nominate Maumoon Hameed for a second time or to nominate a new person for the post of PG, upon President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s return from his ongoing official visit to Japan.

Fares Maathoda MP Ibrahim Mutthalib, who represents Adhaalath Party which is part of the coalition, abstained on the motion to appoint Maumoon Hameed as PG.