Broadcom to Majlis: "not able to fulfill duties due to lack of members"

The Maldives Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom) has sent a letter to the People’s Majlis, expressing the challenges faced due to lack of members.

The letter, signed by the Broadcom secretary general Mohamed Nasih, was read out at Wednesday’s meeting of the committee on independent institutions.

It highlighted the various issues faced by the commission in fulfilling its duties, due to not meeting the required number of members.

While the law states that the Broadcom must have seven members. However, there are currently three. They are; Zeena Zahir, Aminath Saharath and Amjad Waheed.

There were various allegations against the members of the Maldives Broadcasting Commission during the previous administration, including repression and violations of media freedom.

Shortly after the 19th parliament began work this May, it began investigating the claims. The independent institutions’ committee had questioned the members as well.

Three members resigned from the commission during the investigation period; Vice President Abdulla Sofwan and member Hassan Nabah, as well as President Ibrahim Shaheeb.

Both Shaheeb and Sofwan resigned after the committee voted to remove them from the commission, while seventh member Fathmath Zaina was impeached through a parliamentary vote. Zaina was appointed VP after Sofwan’s resignation.

Following the vacancies at Broadcom, the President’s Office has opened opportunities to join the commission three times.

While 36 individuals had applied for the first one, parliament is to conduct interviews during November.