PNC accused of ‘blocking’ MDP and independents from summoning ministers

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and independents at the Parliament expressed concern on Thursday, accusing the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) of blocking the attempts they make to summon government ministers to the Parliament for questioning.

Last week, the parliamentary group of PNC – which hold a supermajority in the Parliament - was instructed against summoning cabinet ministers or heads of state-owned enterprises without explicit permission from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, a politician from MDP, sent a letter addressed to Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla on Wednesday expressing concern over the situation.

In his letter, which he shared in a post on X, Meekail said that Article 81 of the Parliament’s Standing Orders clearly states that the ministers must answer questions at the Parliament after a 14-day notice period – including non-working days – in response to summons by lawmakers.

He said that two summons notices he filed in January have yet to be scheduled; a summons he filed on January 6 to question Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib and a summons he filed on January 14 to question Home Minister Ali Ihusan.

ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ ގަވާއިދުގެ 81 ވަނަ މާއްދާގެ (ހ) ގެ ދަށުން ދެ ވަޒީރެއް ހާޒިރުކޮށް ސުވާލުކުރުމަށް ހުށަަހެޅިފަހުން، 14 ދުވަހުގެ މުއްދަތު ހަމަވެ، 35 ދުވަސް ފަހަނައަޅާދާއިރު، މި ވަޒީރުން ހާޒިރުކޮށް ނުދެއްވާ ސަބަބު ސާފުކޮށްދެއްވުމަށް މަޖިލީހުގެ ރައީސްގެ އަރިހުން އެދެފިން. pic.twitter.com/blDPsw4297

— Meekail Naseem (@MickailNaseem) March 12, 2025

Meekail said that it has been 35 days since the Parliament reopened for the year on February 6, and asked for an explanation regarding why the ministers haven’t been summoned.

He also recalled how he raised a point of order during the parliamentary sitting on March 3 and asked for an explanation.

“Though the Parliament’s presidency assured me that they would look into it and provide me with an explanation when I raised a point of order and questioned why it hadn’t been set in the agenda, I have not been given an explanation to date,” he said.

Addu Meedhoo MP Abdul Rahman – one of the only two independent lawmakers in the Parliament – shared Meekail’s post on Thursday and said he too has had a similar experience.

Abdul Rahman said there has not been any progress on a request he made on February 12 to summon a minister.

ހަމަ މިހެން އަޅުގަނޑު 12 ފެބުރުއަރީ 2025 ވަނަ ދުވަހު ވަޒީރަކު ހާޒިރު ކޮށް ސުވާލު ކުރުމަށް ހުށައަޅައިގެން އަދާއި ހަމައަށް އެކަން ވަނީ ފަހިނުވެ. މަޖިލިސް ރައީސްގެ ހާލުކޮޅު އިލޮންމަސްކުގެ ޓެސްލާ ރޮބޮޓަކަށްވުރެން ދަށް، އޮޕަރޭޓުވަނީ ބަޔަކު އޮޕަރޭޓް ކުރިގޮތަކަށް އެބަޔަކު އޮޕަރޭޓް… https://t.co/ZdF4Sb4FR5

— Abdul Rahman (@MpAhdhu) March 13, 2025

He criticized Speaker Abdul Raheem, the chairperson of PNC, describing him as being “in worse shape than one of Elon Musk’s Tesla robots” and being able to operate “only when and how a certain group operates him.”

“The Parliament is not functioning as it should. I cannot see why we should be denied the chance to summon ministers and ask them the questions we want in accordance with the standing orders when there isn’t any work to do in the floor anyway,” he said.

The MDP has repeatedly accused the PNC of wielding its absolute majority to quell any form of dissent at the Parliament.