DhiFM journalist Qufthaq Ajeer had spent two weeks trying to obtain the information for a piece on housing projects.
But today the frustrated reporter launched a one man protest against the Housing Ministry and bureaucratic inaction, by setting up camp in the ministry’s lobby and refusing to leave until the information was provided.
‘’I have been trying to get this information for two weeks,” he told Minivan News. “Every day they say tomorrow or the next day and it keeps going that way, so I thought I would try a new way today.”
“I decided to stay inside the office until either the police came to throw me out, or the Deputy Minister Mohamed Faiz came to provide me the information I need.”
The ambush was necessary because Faiz “never responds to calls”, he added.
When the journalist began protesting in the lobby, Housing Ministry staff tried to promise him he “would get the information tomorrow.”
“I am not confident with their ‘tomorrow’,” said Qufthaq. “I am trying a new way to see how it goes.’’
He waited inside the Housing Ministry’s lobby after the ministry closed and the staff had left the building.
An hour later, State Minister for Housing Akuram Kamluddeen arrived and disclosed the information Qufthaq had requested two weeks earlier.
Media Cordinator for the Housing Ministry, Mohamed Rashad, said he had “only learned today” that a journalist was trying to reach the deputy minister.
“The busy schedule and all must have been a reason for the long delay,’’ he said. “If the media unit had known about it before, he would have received the information he needed.’’
Bureaucratic inaction and a lack of cooperation from the civil service is the latest in a series of complaints by the Maldivian media.
Recently a Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation (MNBC) journalist was barred from entering the Criminal Court for a hearing.
A journalist from Villa Television (VTV) also complained that Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) parliamentary group leader and MP Moosa ‘Manik’ obstructed him from interviewing another MP.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), acting on information received from the Maldives Journalist Association (MJA), earlier this week issued a statement expressing alarm at the “increasing hostile actions against independent media in the Maldives.”
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I wonder if the journalist tried writing for the information!!! And when they had a media unit, why did the journalist persist and insist on getting the information from the deputy minister via phone??
What "Independent Media"?
Yes, there is no independent media in Maldives. But Mr. Qufthaq Ajeer should be congratulated for his patience against the civil service bureaucracy in the Ministry.
The Permanent Secretary should be sacked immediately for violating the law on the freedom of information.
Qufthag shud have written the media unit.
This is a stunt by DhiTv to gain pupularity.
No need to sack PS. Sent qufthag to learn a bit more about Journslism.Ey na hithun eyna ekuree gadha kameko??
Gadha!
Hope! Hope!
Never let them keep any information under the pillow!
perhaps the government should organise an information workshop to introduce the media units of all ministries and their staff to the media?
no point in writing to them since they have told they will call him back "tommorrow" and take his number everyday.. & we all know that writing letters to government bodies go to waste.. it was the only choice..
Its the media that pass on information to the public. Everyone should work hard to give as much information to media in order to facilite good reporting.I am proud to see very young reporters working hard to give the public a good view of whats happening.Only thing please dont take sides. Keep up the good work reporters.
Eid Mubaarik!
I am with @Abdulla on this. You hit the nail right on its head. For the record i do not believe the media in Maldives is independent.
I like that the journalist held his ground. The Ministries do not disclose information which the public should rightfully have and when someone gets persistent on something, the person will get labeled as a nuisance. But people remain tight on information because there is a twist in each story and there is a dirty finger in it.. Nothing is straight here but the make believers will react strongly to this statement. Media is itself is not ethical often and they do not double check on the information they have. They continue contributing to a lot of the misinformation in this country.
So now very government office has a media unit? Wow i didnt knwo that... And who controls them? Badi Reeko Moosa Manik?
There is no law on media freedom.
May be th journalist wanted a favour. From th deputy. Otherwise why not wtite to the media unit n get the info?
Dubious free media.
Dr. Hassan, Dr. Munavvar, Thasneem, Yameen, Baby Umaru.... what alughing stock?? wants to be the next president of Maldives?? forget it!!