Parliament committees reconstituted with over half the session consumed

MPs have been selected for standing committees today following yesterday’s 61-3 vote to approve a compromise over the reworked composition agreed upon by parliamentary group (PG) leaders.

The three dissenting votes were cast by Independent MPs Ahmed Amir and Ahmed “Redwave” Saleem along with Nolhivaram MP Mohamed Nasheed of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

MPs of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party’s (DRP) Z-faction, Ahmed Mahlouf, Ilham Ahmed and Afrashim Ali, were notably chosen by the split main opposition party for the coveted ‘241’ Security Services Committee – the Z-DRP MPs disrupted last week’s sitting in protest of the previous compromise reached by PG leaders, which would have given the MDP a voting majority on the now-opposition controlled committee.

As a result of the drawn out dispute over committee composition – sparked by the defection of two opposition MPs to the ruling party in May – parliamentary committees have remained stalled since the current session began in June.

The second session of parliament this year is meanwhile due to end next month as Majlis breaks for recess at the end of August.

Apart from authority to summon state officials and conduct inquiries, parliamentary committees are tasked with reviewing and finalising legislation as well as evaluating the President’s nominees to the cabinet, independent institutions and foreign missions.

Four out of 14 bills proposed by the government as part of its economic reform package were sent to committee on Monday while debate on the rest is set to continue next week.

Among the economic reform legislation on the agenda today were proposed laws for business registration, real estate, inheritance, business partnerships and company rules as well as a bill to abolish the Foreign Investment Act of 1979.

Revised committee composition : –

1. Rules Committee – five seats for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP); five seats for the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP); one seat for People’s Alliance (PA); Eydhafushi MP Ahmed “Redwave” Saleem as the Independent MP

2. Public Accounts Committee – five seats for MDP; four seats for DRP; one seat for PA; one seat for Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP)

3. Economics Committee – five seats for MDP; three seats for DRP; one seat for Jumhooree Party (JP); Meedhoo MP Ahmed “Sun Travel” Shiyam and Eydhafushi MP Ahmed “Redwave” Saleem as the Independent MPs

4. Social Affairs Committee – four seats for MDP; three seats for DRP; two seats for PA; one seat for JP; Velidhoo MP Ali Mohamed as the Independent MP

5. Independent Institutions Committee – five seats for MDP; four seats for DRP; one seat for PA; Kulhudhufushi South MP Mohamed Nasheed as the Independent MP

6. Government Oversight Committee – four seats for MDP; four seats for DRP; one seat PA; one seat for JP; one seat for DQP

7. National Development Committee – five seats for MDP; three seats for DRP; one seat for PA; Kudahuvadhoo MP Ahmed Amir and Kaashdihoo MP Ismail Abdul Hameed as the Independent MP

8. National Security Committee – five seats for MDP; three seats for DRP; one seat for PA; Dhuvafaru MP Mohamed Zubair and Guraidhoo MP Ibrahim Riza as the Independent MPs

9. General Affairs Committee – five seats for MDP; three seats for DRP; one seat for PA; Kudahuvadhoo MP Ahmed Amir and Dhuvafaru MP Mohamed Zubair

10. Petition Committee – five seats for MDP; three seats for DRP; one seat for PA; one seat for JP; Kaashidhoo MP Ismail Abdul Hameed as the Independent MP

11. Privileges Committee – five seats for MDP; three seats for DRP; one seat for PA; one seat for JP; Guraidhoo MP Ibrahim Riza as the Independent MP

12. Ethics Committee – five seats for MDP; four seats for DRP; one seat for PA; Velidhoo MP Ali Mohamed as the Independent MP

13. ‘241’ Security Services Committee * – five seats for MDP; three seats for DRP; one seat for PA; one seat for JP; one seat for DQP; Guraidhoo MP Ibrahim Riza and Kaashidhoo MP Ismail Abdul Hameed as the Independent MP

* Article 241 of the Constitution states, “A committee of the People’s Majlis shall be established to exercise continuing oversight of the operations of the security services. The committee shall include representation from all the different political parties within the People’s Majlis.” Unlike the other 12 standing committees, which has 11 seats, the 241 committee has 13 seats.