Parliament Speaker Urges MPs to Refrain from Disrespectful Remarks

Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla has cautioned members against making comments that undermine the dignity of parliamentarians, following remarks by opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem.

The incident occurred during a debate on a motion to ban Israeli passport holders from entering the Maldives. 

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Expressing frustration over delays in passing the motion, the South Galolhu MP criticised what he described as undue influence by the President’s Office on parliament’s agenda, suggesting that individual MPs were being controlled.

In response, Speaker Abdul Raheem reminded MPs to maintain respect for the legislature, stating, “Implying that members of parliament are bots diminishes the respect and value afforded to MPs.”

The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), which holds a parliamentary majority, has frequently been accused by opposition parties of aligning parliament’s agenda too closely with the government’s directives. These criticisms have sparked ongoing debates over the independence of legislative processes in the Maldives.

The proposed bill to ban Israeli passport holders has been in parliament since May, with opposition figures repeating concerns over delayed action. An emergency motion submitted last month over the delay was rejected by the speaker.