The Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) has called on Chairman of the Maldives Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Ibrahim Umar Manik to resign after he contested in the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) ongoing primaries yesterday.
MJA President Ahmed ‘Hiriga’ Zahir said Manik’s actions do not conform to “best practices”.
Speaking to local media, Hiriga said journalists must resign from their posts to stand for political positions.
Manik had signed on to the PPM in January, but would only resign from his position if he won the party primary. Preliminary results show Manik lost the ticket to Ibrahim Falah.
MBC’s rules of procedure do not prohibit any member from joining a political party, Manik argued previously.