Resolution submitted to Parliament over allegations that PSM discriminated against political parties and denied MDP opportunity to disseminate information

A resolution has been submitted to the People’s Majlis over Public Service Media’s (PSM) alleged discrimination against political parties and its failure to provide the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) with the opportunity to disseminate information to the public.

The resolution submitted by the Member of Parliament for South Galolhu, Meekail Ahmed Naseem, has been scheduled for deliberation during Monday's parliamentary sitting.

The resolution states that the objective of PSM is to remain a national media outlet that provides services across all regions of the Maldives, operating independently of influence and with full editorial freedom, within the general principles and policies prescribed by law.

The resolution highlights that Article 5 (k) of the Public Service Media Act mandates the state media to ensure its services are provided to the public without any discrimination. It further stipulates that Public Service Media must strive to maintain equity and impartiality in providing opportunities to both individuals and various organizations.

Furthermore, the resolution states that Article 5 mandates the state media to strive towards building an informed and enlightened citizenry across religious, economic, social, political, and other essential national sectors. It also requires the state media to keep the public updated on national and international developments, news, and information of significance to the Maldivian people.

The resolution submitted by the member highlights that Section 6 of the Public Service Media Act mandates all parties to ensure the broadcaster remains an institution free from influence and possesses full editorial independence. It further stipulates that no individual or entity with political, financial, or any other form of power or status shall attempt to exert direct or indirect influence over Public Service Media.

Furthermore, the resolution stated that according to Section 30(a) of the General Elections Act, all broadcasters must allocate airtime for advertisements and programs to candidates and political parties seeking support. This requirement applies from the date the Elections Commission officially announces the candidates until 6:00 p.m. on the day preceding the election, in accordance with the Act and its regulations. The resolution also noted that Section 30(b) of the same Act mandates that broadcasters must provide this airtime to all parties on an equal basis.

To achieve this objective, the resolution highlights that the Public Service Broadcaster bears the primary responsibility for upholding the principles outlined in Article 4 of the Guideline on Broadcasting Political Content During Elections. This includes maintaining equity in broadcasting voter awareness programs and allocating airtime to candidates, as well as ensuring the delivery of accurate, fair, and impartial information in news reporting.

The resolution highlights that despite the legal requirement to prioritize public interest, the state media has disregarded established laws and regulations. Instead of operating as a national public broadcaster, it has functioned to serve specific interests, completely undermining the editorial independence mandated by law. The resolution further notes that the state media channels have historically deviated from the principles of fairness and impartiality to protect the political or personal interests of particular individuals.

The resolution stated that the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was not afforded an adequate opportunity to provide the public with comprehensive information regarding the proposal to hold presidential and parliamentary elections concurrently, even by the time the public referendum to gauge citizen sentiment on the matter had concluded.

Furthermore, the resolution highlighted that the state broadcaster, Public Service Media (PSM), disseminated blatant misinformation to the public by reporting that the ruling party had secured the majority of votes in the Local Council and Women's Development Committee elections held on April 4.

The resolution stated that media outlets have reported several promotions within the state broadcaster ahead of the council elections. These include the promotion of two individuals to the position of Executive Director, three others to Deputy Director, and a former Assistant Manager to lead the TV Production Department.

The resolution further emphasizes that it was introduced to fulfill the constitutional obligations mandated to the People's Majlis under Article 70(b)(3) of the Constitution. This provision requires the Parliament to monitor the actions of the executive branch and ensure government accountability.