MP Shareef: Irresponsible to exploit super majority

Opposition People’s National Congress’ (PNC) parliamentary group leader, Maduvvari MP Adam Shareef has stated that exploiting super majority is irresponsible.

MP Shareef made that remark in the letter sent to parliament’s chair subsequent to Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) parliamentary group’s decision to reject a bill submitted by him, ‘Bill on National Security’.

In his letter, MP Shareef said that the bill was submitted to the parliament to ensure national security and protect the Maldives and its citizens from issues and attacks that impact the nation’s sovereignty and independence.

“The bill includes formulating policies to protect and defend the national security of Maldives, constituting National Security Council, National Intelligence Committee, their responsibilities, announcement of state of emergency, and how to act in such situations,” he detailed.

The letter underscored that creation of the National Security Bill commenced back in 2016, in light of the local political situation and the experiences during the early stages of multiparty democracy.

It was also stressed that the bill was formulated under the initiation of lawyers in the Maldivian military back then, by researching national security legislations of many nations. Moreover, police input was also sought for the bill.

The letter detailed that the bill was modified last year in a manner that national security matters can be implemented without major changes administratively and to government bodies.

“National Security Bill does not contradict any other Maldivian laws. None of the parliamentarians who debated regarding the bill raised any issues with respect to it,” he added.

It was noted in the letter that many parliamentarians emphasized the need for a bill on national security, as it could further strengthen national intelligence.

Therewith, MP Shareef stated in the letter that the ruling party’s decision to reject the bill without a proper basis was contradictory to multiparty democracy – describing it as a regressive act to silence opposition members.

“With the recent changes to the ruling party’s parliamentary group, it is with sadness that I note the rejection of important issues of relevancy to the public,” he added.

He said that this hinders opposition members from carrying out their duty of making the government answerable for their actions.

In his letter, he also noted that despite MDP’s parliamentary group’s decision to reject the bill, some parliamentarians that had debated on the bill had raised good points with respect to it. MP Shareef went on to thank MDP’s leader, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed for providing the opportunity to submit the bill, and debate on the subject in a suitable manner.

Disagreements with MDP recently has led the ruling party to form two factions; a faction that supports Nasheed and a faction that supports President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Heated words were exchanges