MPs took points of order and accused each other of threatening violence during the debate on the government's waste management bill on Wednesday.
The first allegation was made by Henveiru Dhekunu MP Hussain Shameem while Dhiggaru MP Ikram Hassan was speaking in the debate.
"Four MPs in this parliament who are trying to form The Democrats confronted and threatened me. When I shared this with the parliament speaker, he said in the presence of several people, 'I'll make them strike you on your ears, too,'" Shameem said.
Shameem said he faced threats on numerous occasions in the past and had submitted a complaint to parliament. He said he requested security but it has not been arranged to date.
"When they didn't do anything, I'm going about without security," he said.
MPs active in the formation of The Democrats also took points of order when Shameem made the allegation. Kulhuduffushi Uthuru MP Yasir Abdul Latheef and Machchangoalhi Uthuru MP Mohamed Rasheed denied the allegation.
"Regardless of saying anything at all to make media headlines, we know, the Maldivian people know, what's going on here," Mohamed Rasheed said.
When MPs from The Democrats denied Shameem's allegation, Hanimadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa took a point of order and said, "I was there when this happened."
After that, Kudahuvadhoo MP Ahmed Amir took a point of order and accused Ghafoor.
"The honourable MP for Hanimaadhoo also told me in the tea room that he would beat me up," he said.
Machchangoalhi Uthuru MP Mohamed Rasheed said the police have not taken any action over a case filed three years ago over threats made while he was walking with his wife.
Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef, who was presiding over the sitting, urged MPs to submit complaints to the parliament secretariat and the privileges committee.
Since MP Afeef took the speaker's chair in the afternoon session, several MPs have been raising points of order and engaging in a war of words with each other.
