Former Parliament Speaker Abdulla Shahid has said that island councilors are being suspended to silence the voice of citizens.

MP Shahid said this on twitter on Saturday to mark the one-year anniversary of the swearing-in of the local councilors.

In the tweet, Shahid applauded the unceasing courage of councilors.

The government has been repeatedly suspending opposition-aligned island councils. The Local Government Authority (LGA) has suspended members of Haa Alif Ihavandhoo council for a second time last week.

The first time around, they were suspended for three months without pay for their involvement in a protest on Fishermen's Day. Their second suspension comes less than a month after they resumed work on May 2 over allegations of obstructing the work of employees at the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure.

Also, on Saturday, the LGA suspended Baa Kamadhoo Council Vice President Ahmed Sajid, for three months without pay for failing to elect a council president within the legally mandated time.