The current self-regulatory mechanism for media and internet isn’t working, says Ahmed Nazim, deputy speaker of Parliament and prominent politician from the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), announcing that he is in the middle of drafting a bill to regulate media and internet in a more effective manner.
The move to submit a new bill comes after a contentious media bill submitted by an independent lawmaker was withdrawn in November last year following outcry from the local media as well as the opposition.
In an appearance on Sun’s ‘Editaruge Suvaalu’ program, Nazim, who represents the Dhiggaru constituency, said that he has been working on a new bill to regulate media and internet for the last two months.
Nazim said he plans to submit the bill once the Parliament reopens on February 6.
“We currently have the Broadcom [Maldives Broadcasting Commission]. And we also have the Media Council. It takes around MVR 10 million per year to run the Media Council or these both institutions together. And there’s the duplication of the functions of these two institutions,” he said.
Nazim said that “things aren’t going in the most responsible manner”, and that journalists need to be more responsible.
Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim on an episode of ‘Editaruge Suvaalu’.
“I believe that the media needs to be more responsible. The media claims they can self-regulate. But this isn’t working. I don’t see it working. The TVs air whatever they want. They write whatever they want,” he said.
“…I see it getting extremely personal with malicious content propagated via TV and other medias. They are also airing content that is inappropriate for viewing in the living room with our parents and children. They propagate “he said, she said” claims that do not have a grain of truth.”
Nazim believes that Malaysia, which has a communications and multimedia commission, is a good model for Maldives to follow.
Nazim said that it is not enough to regulate the media, but the internet also needs to be regulated.
He noted the use of messaging apps such as Telegram to commit crimes, and the use of Viber to openly buy and sell US dollars in the black market.
He said that the Maldives needs laws to regulate the internet in order to stop such crimes.
“Many social media platforms are being used as mediums for crimes. Telegram channels are being used to commit crimes. And there’s the currency scams. Dollars are being sold in the black market via Viber groups. This is something we are all aware of,” he said.
Nazim said that one of the main objectives of the bill is to regulate internet, social media and mainstream media under one roof.
Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim on an episode of ‘Editaruge Suvaalu’.
Nazim said that the bill will be drafted in accordance with international best practice, and that the bill will be opened for comment from media and other stakeholders once it is submitted to the Parliament.
“Something is better than nothing. The current model is unworkable,” he said.
Last year, Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakr submitted the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission Bill to the Parliament - designed to create a seven-member Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission, replacing the Maldives Broadcasting Commission and the Maldives Media Council. Four of the members, including the president and vice president of the commission, would be appointed by the Maldivian president with parliamentary approval. The remaining three members would be elected by broadcasters and medias. It also proposed fines of up to MVR 10,000 for individual reporters.
The bill had sparked resistance from the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) and opposition parties, including the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) – which labeled it an effort to “bury” freedom of the press in the Maldives.
MDP had alleged that the bill was drafted by the government. And was submitted through Hannan so that the government can be safe from any blowback.
The MJA had expressed concern that the bill undermines the principles of a free press and would lead to “undue government influence on freedom of media and journalists.”
Hannan bowed down to the pressure and withdrew the bill.