MDP officials find no one to meet at state media headquarters after visiting to voice concerns over lack of equal opportunity!
MDP members staged a protest at the President's Office after officials refused to facilitate a meeting, citing the public holiday. The opposition members voiced their concerns and demonstrated on-site after being informed that no one was available to meet with them.
MDP expresses concern over state media's failure to provide equal opportunity. | RaajjeMV | Raajje MV
Representatives from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) visited the state media headquarters today to voice concerns over the lack of equitable airtime regarding the upcoming referendum on holding presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously. However, the delegation found no official available to meet with them.
The MDP visited the state media headquarters after previously sharing their concerns regarding the matter with the Elections Commission. The party's visit to the state media on Monday followed a formal letter sent in advance. In that correspondence, the MDP requested a meeting with Ahmed Shafeeq, the official currently in charge of managing the state media.
However, when MDP officials arrived at the PSM premises, the broadcaster informed them that Shakeeb was out of the city. Consequently, the MDP requested a meeting with a senior official from PSM instead.
However, citing the public holiday, no official was designated to meet with the MDP representatives. In response, the party members staged a protest at the premises to voice their concerns. The MDP members asserted that as a state media outlet funded by taxpayer money, there should, at the very least, be an official available to meet with them.
The MDP has repeatedly voiced concerns regarding the lack of equitable coverage by state media in its election awareness efforts, alleging that airtime is being disproportionately granted to various government officials.
