AG defends media bill, says it’s “good” and can be improved through amendments

Attorney General Ahmed Usham has staunchly defended the contentious Media and Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Bill, describing it as a “good” piece of legislation that can be further refined through amendments, despite widespread criticism from journalists demanding its complete withdrawal.

Usham made these remarks during a press conference following a meeting between journalists and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Thursday. The gathering was held in response to mounting protests calling for the bill’s repeal, with media professionals warning that the legislation would impose severe restrictions on press freedom.

In a pointed exchange with a RaajjeTV journalist, Usham was asked about his position on the bill, as well as whether he had been consulted during its drafting process. Responding to these questions, Usham acknowledged that he had previously advised the withdrawal of an earlier version of the bill, but insisted that the current draft is an improvement and not more restrictive.

Usham said that the current Media Bill is a good bill and that he believes it can be further improved with additional amendments.

When pressed on his involvement in the bill’s formulation, Usham pointed to a recent meeting with Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Nazim, and representatives from the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA). He claimed that during this meeting, MJA was invited to submit their concerns about the bill, but noted that the association had yet to respond.

Despite calls from media professionals for the bill’s outright withdrawal, Usham maintained there is no justification for scrapping it, signaling that the government is committed to moving forward with the legislation, albeit with potential amendments.