Efforts made to silence some MPs in Parliament: President Maumoon

Progressive Party of Maldives President and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has stated that there was conscious effort to silence some Members of Parliament on the Parliament floor.

He said in the Parliament sessions some MPs were not allowed to voice their concerns about their Constituencies.

A statement released by the Office of PPM’s President, said that the 85 MPs were sworn into their positions, based on a solemn vow to serve their Constituents based on the means set in the Constitution, laws and regulations of the nation and the Parliament.

The statement said the MPs were accountable to their Constituents. As such, each MP should be allowed to express the sentiments and hopes of their Constituents on the Parliament floor, especially with regards to the bills sent to the Parliament.

However, the statement noted that of late, some MPs were silenced on the Parliament floor, with glaring differences observed between time given to MPs to speak.

The statement had called on heads of the Parliament to cease any activity that creates differences between MPs and in between laws and regulations of the Parliament. PPM’s Maumoon faction condemned the efforts of some to silence certain MPs.

The statement said that this was in direct conflict with democratic principles and a democratic age.

The statement called on the Parliament to grant equal access to all MPs on the Parliament floor in order to protect the rights of the public and for the betterment of the nation.