No benefit will be gained by passing laws that obstruct press freedom: Solih

Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that there is no benefit to be gained from passing legislation that obstructs press freedom.

In a post on X, Solih stated that journalists must serve as watchdogs for all matters of public interest and emphasized that delivering accurate information to the public is an essential duty of the press. Solih further noted that bringing urgent matters to public attention is not only a professional responsibility but also a constitutional mandate entrusted to journalists.

Solih further stated that journalists must be transparent in their reporting, disclosing both instances when the value of the dollar rises and when it declines.

The Parliament's Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday approved an amendment to the Foreign Exchange Bill, criminalizing the advertisement or promotion of currency exchange rates outside the official limits set by the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA). Under the new provision, any individual or entity found using digital platforms or other means to publicly disseminate or encourage transactions at unauthorized rates could face fines of up to half a million Rufiyaa.

In this regard, it has been resolved to criminalize the promotion and advertising of foreign currency exchange transactions conducted at rates exceeding the official exchange rate or band established by the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA).