As work on 10-foot platform continues, parliament employees banned from entering chamber

RaajjeMV has learnt that parliament employees have been banned from entering the parliament chamber.

While the parliament was scheduled to resume on the 2nd of October, it was delayed due to ongoing work in the parliament chamber; allegedly to build a 10-foot high platform for the Speaker.

While parliament employees were free to enter the chamber previously, they have now been banned from doing so.

RaajjeMV understands that security officers have been placed outside the chamber, to inspect who enters and leaves the parliament chamber, including those conducting the work.

RaajjeMV was unable to get an official comment on the matter, as the parliament's general secretary did not answer the station's calls (at the time of publishing).

As the MNDF are accused of building the platform, RaajjeMV had called MNDF's media officer Ibrahim Azim, who said that MNDF "has no knowledge of any such work in the parliament building".

He said "such work is conducted by the Parliamentary administration," adding that MNDF only carries out the security work at the Parliament.

Previously there were reports of a "glass box" being built around the Speaker's chair, as opposition lawmakers continued their protests during parliament sittings.

Opposition parliamentarians have been protesting during parliament sittings, noting that Maseeh "is no longer eligible" to lead the sittings as Speaker, as a no-confidence motion had been submitted against him, with 45 signatures.