MDP parliamentary group passes no-confidence vote against Minister Maleeh

The parliamentary group of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has voted in favor of bringing the lack of confidence in Home Minister Imran Abdulla to the attention of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The parliamentary group of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has voted in favor of impressing on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih that they no longer have confidence in Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Mohamed Maleeh Jamal.

A no-confidence motion against Maleeh, signed by 11 parliamentarians, was submitted to the MDP parliamentary group last week.

The MDP parliamentary group took a vote regarding the motion this Sunday morning. All parliamentarians who attended the meeting voted in favor of impressing on the President they no longer have confidence in Maleeh.

The motion was submitted to the MDP parliamentary group citing failure to establish any of the regulations required of Telecommunications Authority under the Telecommunications Act, despite Maleeh having been serving in office of Minister of Communications, Science and Technology for two years.

According to the motion, there is evidence Maleeh had a direct hand in obstructing attempts by political appointees and civil servants at the Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology to establish the regulations in question.

The regulations required under Telecommunications Act are crucial for the regulation and management of the telecommunications sector, and the delay in establishing the regulations is damaging to the State and the people, reads the motion.

Maleeh was appointed Minister of Communications, Science and Technology on a slot to Jumhoory Party (JP) – one of the government coalition partners.

The decision by the MDP parliamentary group comes after remarks by Maleeh during a TV interview, in which he said the Parliament should not have a say in the running of the government, drew the ire of several MDP parliamentarians.

Maleeh responded to a tweet by South Galolhu MP Ahmed Mickail Naseem in which he shared the MDP parliamentary group’s decision by describing it as “an own goal”, and a vote against freedom of expression.

Thimannaamenge verikameggaa qaanoonu asaaseege maadhaa 27 ah ithubaaru neiy kamah thiya faaskuree. Thiyaee khiyaalu faalhu kurumuge minivan kamuge thaaju alhuhvaigen ulhuhvaa beyfulhun baikolhah jehi goaleh. Amilla sandhokah thiya jahsavanee mohoru. ???? https://t.co/A7Stul0yXf

— Mohamed Maleeh Jamal (@maleehjamal) November 22, 2020

“This is an own goal by the people wearing crowns of ‘freedom of expression’. You are nailing your own coffin,” said Maleeh.