Jabir accused of defying MDP whip with nomination for Deputy Speaker

Dec 4, 2023, 9:32 AM
Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir. -- Photo: Adhadhu

Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir. -- Photo: Adhadhu

The Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) Secretariat is due to look into Thoddoo MP Hassan Shiyan and Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir's defiance of a whip-line issued by the parliamentary group.

Alifushi MP Mohamed Rasheed Hussain, MDP parliamentary group leader, has decided to submit a complaint to the party, the group's spokesman Velidhoo MP Mohamed Abdulla Shafeeq confirmed to Adhadhu.

The party's chairman will decide the committee to investigate the pair, Mohamed said.

Before last night's sitting of Parliament, the MDP chose Hoarafushi MP Ahmed Saleem to stand for Deputy Speaker on behalf of the party.

After Saleem was nominated in line with the decision, Shiyan nominated Jabir. Gadhdhoo MP Ahmed Zahir from The Democrats seconded Shiyan's proposal. But his name was not included in the complaint.

Saleem won Sunday night's secret ballot with 51 votes. Jabir received 23 votes.

The MDP has now regained the roles of Speaker and Deputy Speaker. After the party won a super-majority of the 19th People's Majlis, Machchangoalhi Medhu MP Mohamed Nasheed became Speaker and Galolhu Uthuru MP Eva Abdulla became Deputy Speaker.

Eva and Nasheed led the formation of a new party amid a rift within the MDP, which then tried to impeach the pair and eventually succeeded a few days before the change in government.

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