The bill proposing the merger of the Maldives Media Council (MMC) and the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom) has been passed to the Independent Institutions Committee for review.
The "Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation" Bill advanced with 49 votes in favour during a parliamentary extraordinary sitting on Wednesday, marking a significant step towards a major overhaul of the country's media landscape.
The legislation, introduced by independent lawmaker Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru, outlines plans to abolish the MMC and Broadcom and replace them with a single seven-member Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission.
Proponents of the bill state its purpose is to uphold constitutional press freedom, prevent the spread of false news, and establish rules for media and journalists to ensure responsible reporting.
The proposed commission will consist of seven members serving five-year terms, with a maximum of two terms, with three members appointed by the President after parliamentary approval, while four will be elected by eligible media outlets.
The commission's chair will be appointed by the President with parliamentary consent, though President Dr Mohamed Muizzu recently suggested this appointment could be made via an internal vote among commissioners instead.
The Elections Commission will oversee the election of media-appointed members, for which journalists and outlets registered for at least five years will be eligible to vote.
The new commission will be responsible for creating and maintaining a register of all journalists and editors working in the country.
Upon enactment, the bill would repeal the Maldives Media Council Act and the Newspapers and Magazines Act, while modifying provisions of the Broadcasting Act. The new commission will have wide-ranging powers to enforce regulations and penalise violations.
The commission can order corrections, impose fines of up to 10 percent of the previous year's income for repeat offences, and potentially revoke a broadcaster's license for persistent violations.
Newspapers and magazines meanwhile could face fines of USD 324.27 to USD 6,485.15 for repeated violations of a code of conduct. The commission can also temporarily cancel registration and pursue court action for permanent cancellation.
Individual journalists can be fined between USD 324.27 and MVR 25,000 for failing to rectify issues within a given timeframe.
The bill now moves to the Independent Institutions Committee for further consideration, where some of its provisions are expected to be reviewed.