Minister Maleeh no-confidence motion on Majlis agenda for Monday

The no-confidence motion initiated by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) parliamentarians against the Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Mohamed Maleeh Jamaal has been put on the agenda for the Monday's sitting of the People's Majlis.

Leader of the MDP parliamentary group and MP for the Henveiru-Central constituency Ali Azim had confirmed the initiation of a no-confidence motion against Minister Maleeh on 10 February. MP Azim and Minister Maleeh have since come to blows on social media in a spat regarding the issue over the past few weeks as well

A notice confirming the initiation of the no-confidence motion has now been sent to Minister Maleeh, who has come under fire lately for his criticism of MDP parliamentarians in interviews with local media regarding the issue. Maleeh also tweeted against the perceived "injustice" against him on his personal account on Sunday following the confirmation of the agenda for Monday's parliament sitting.

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.

Parliamentarians called to remove Minister Maleeh from office in the sitting of the People's Majlis conducted earlier on 9 February.

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.

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.

Half of all sitting members of parliament (43 members) must vote no-confidence against Minister Maleeh for him to removed from office. Raajje MV has confirmed that MDP parliamentarians will be acting according to a three line whip, voting in line with the party's position to pass the motion of no-confidence against Minister Maleeh in Monday's sitting of parliament.