Riyaz threatens penalties for PPM lawmakers who voted against Defamation Bill

Deputy Leader of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed has said that the PPM lawmakers who violated the three-line whip and voted against the defamation and freedom of speech bill would be penalized.

Three PPM lawmakers voted against the bill, proposed by fellow PPM lawmaker – Ungoofaaru MP Jaufar Dhawood.

They are:

• South Kulhudhuffushi MP Mohamed Nasheed

• Thimarafushi MP Mohamed Musthafa

• Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Faaris Maumoon

Riyaz spoke to “Sun” on Wednesday and said that the three PPM lawmakers would be penalized.

“This is not even something we can debate over within PPM Parliamentary Group, is it. Those who violated the whip-line will be penalized,” said Riyaz.

Riyaz, however, did not specify the penalties that will be given against them.

Of the three PPM lawmakers who voted against the whip-line, MP Faaris was removed from the party by PPM Disciplinary Committee after he violated a three-line whip and voted against the amendment to Tourism Act - which legalized lease of islands, land, and lagoons for tourism without an open bidding process.

PPM later declared the Disciplinary Committee’s decision void, given that they had failed to follow official party protocol regarding such matters.

While MP Faaris, MP Musthafa and MP Nasheed blatantly defied the three-line whip by voting against the Defamation Bill on Tuesday, some PPM lawmakers – including Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem (Redwave Saleem) and Maduvvari MP Mohamed Ameeth – did not attend the voting.

Saleem later spoke to media and said that people needed their freedom of speech, and that he wasn’t afraid of any negative repercussions over something he may say or do.