MDP initiates no-confidence motion against Minister Maleeh

A motion of no-confidence has been submitted against the Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Mohamed Maleeh Jamaal by the leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s parliamentary group, MP for Henveiru-Central constituency Ali Azim.

MP Ali Azim confirmed the motion had been initiated by MDP's parliamentary group in a tweet on Wednesday.

MP for Galolhu-South constituency Mickail Naseem had previously submitted a motion of no-confidence against Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Mohamed Maleeh Jamaal to the MDP parliamentary group with 10 signatures. Following this, MDP's parliamentary group deferred the decision to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih after expressing their opinion in favor of no-confidence against Minister Maleeh on 22 November last year.

The MDP parliamentary group had highlighted Maleeh's failure in preparing any of the regulations as entrusted to the Communications Authority of Maldives despite having been in office for two years. The MDP members of parliament went on to note that every day Maleeh spent in office without fulfilling his responsibilities as minister presented at great loss to the state and the people of Maldives, and that the minister had actively hindered progress in the communications sector while also being non-cooperative in performing his duties as minister.

The MDP parliamentary group went on to say that the no-confidence in Maleeh was also the opinion of the general public on his performance as minister. However, even as sessions for parliament concluded for recess last year, the motion of no-confidence against Minister Maleeh had not been officiallyt presented to the floor of parliament. At the time, MP Ali Azim said that MDP had no intention of forcibly removing a minister from office and that their decision of no-confidence against Maleeh had been forwarded to President Solih for further consideration in his capacity as head of state.

The no-confidence motion was submitted amid the debate on the special motion submitted by MP for the Maafannu-Central constituency Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonda) over the delay in action against Maleeh.

Speaking on the floor of parliament, Rasheed highlighted that Maleeh, who is tasked with overseeing communications in the country under the mandate of the ministry, had consistently disregarded existing laws to provide undue benefits to telecom giants over a long period of time. The MP went on to call for immediate action regarding this, with other MDP members of parliament reiterating similar concerns as the debate wore on.

Half of all sitting members of parliament (43 members) must vote no-confidence against Minister Maleeh for him to removed from office.