The outgoing Parliament was the most productive in the long parliamentary history of the Maldives, Speaker Mohamed Aslam said on Monday.
"I want to note with pride and happiness that in the 92-year period that has passed since a People's Majlis was formed in 1932, this 19th People's Majlis becomes the one that did the most work," Aslam said yesterday before ending the final sitting of the 19th Majlis.
The 87-member 19th Majlis with a majority controlled by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) since the beginning held a total of 513 sittings lasting 1,461 hours, said Aslam, who completed a fourth consecutive term in Parliament. A total of 3,748 committee meetings lasted 3,748 hours, he added.
"During the abovementioned times, work was completely finished on 178 bills, 73 resolutions, 152 issues proposed by the government, 104 issues proposed by the Speaker, 108 motions without notice, 48 motions submitted by MPs, 153 reports on various issues and 348 questions to ministers," Aslam said.
Important bills passed by Parliament
The 178 bills passed by the outgoing Parliament out of 210 bills submitted over the past five years included bills that brought revolutionary changes. Aslam noted 34 out of those bills. They were:
- Presidential commission bill
- Legal profession bill
- Cultural heritage bill
- Fisheries bill
- Whistleblower protection bill
- Juvenile justice bill
- Child rights protection bill
- Bill on pesticides used in agriculture
- Income tax bill
- Water and sewerage bill
- Bill on creating and sustaining competition in the business sector
- Consumer protection bill
- Chartered accountants bill
- Education bill
- Utility regulatory authority bill
- Transitional justice bill
- Police bill
- Statistics bill
- Energy bill
- Foreign service bill
- Tenancy bill
- Civil procedures bill
- Real estate bill
- Electronic communications bill
- Associations bill
- Bill on international trade of endangered species
- Bill on artistic creations
- Bill outlawing chemical weapons
- Bill on registration of births and deaths
- Waste management bill
- Companies bill
- Industrial relations bill
- Occupational health and safety bill
- Food safety bill
In addition to these bills, Aslam made special note of revisions to the general elections law among amendments brought to laws. These amendments ensured the right for visually impaired voters to cast their ballots without assistance.
Aslam also took note of resolutions and emergency motions proposed to provide or facilitate essential public services as important work done by Parliament. He highlighted resolutions on solving water and sewage problems, ensuring good health, providing housing and empowering councils as well as motions related to small businesses, agriculture and fisheries.
Thulhaadhoo MP Hisaan Hussain and Galolhu Uthuru MP Eva Abdulla at a 241 Committee meeting held during the Covid-19 pandemic. -- Photo: Adhadhu
“The work of the Majlis continued during the Covid-19 pandemic despite many challenges and the Majlis undertook efforts to put the nation back on track economically and socially,” he said.
Several motions advocating for the rights and protection of children, women and persons with disabilities were also passed, corruption cases were investigated, and efforts were made to hold government officials accountable, Aslam said.
Aslam noted the bomb attack against former Speaker Mohamed Nasheed and called for expediting justice in the case.
Heads of government who addressed the 19th Majlis included Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
