A bill submitted by Galolhu Dhekunu MP Meekail Naseem to mandate the handover of plots awarded to Male' residents under the previous government's "Binveriya" (Landowners) scheme within three months has been rejected after heavy criticism from the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) MPs in the majority.
A vote was called at today's sitting of Parliament to send the bill to committee. But 75 out of 88 MPs who participated voted No. One MP abstained while 12 MPs voted in favour of sending the bill to a committee.
When passing the bill without changes was then called, 76 MPs voted against it. One MP abstained while 12 MPs voted in favour of passing the bill.
Mickail's bill to amend the immigration law to require the handover of plots within three months had first been passed by the 19th Parliament and sent for ratification to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
When the bill was sent back for reconsideration, the 19th Parliament's term had ended. Therefore, the floor was opened to a debate at today's sitting for a decision on the bill.
Speaking first during the debate, PNC MP for Holhudhoo Abdul Sattar said he did not support proceeding with the bill in its current form based on the reasons cited in the President's letter when the bill was returned.
PNC MP for Maafannu Dhekunu Abdulla Rifau said he did not believe it was the most beneficial for the public to pass laws as a nuisance. Rifau characterised the bill submitted by Mickail as such a bill.
"Looking at the information in this, what we're seeing is that this was done as a nuisance," Rifau said, citing the letter from the President when the bill was sent back.
PNC MP for Maafannu Hulhagu Musthafa Hussain characterised Mickail's bill as an attempt to "show something being done" for the public near the end of a five-year term.
PNC MP for Vilimale' Mohamed Ismail said he saw Mickail's bill as a bill submitted with ill intent to achieve political purposes.
PNC MPs who spoke during today's sitting said the bill should be thrown out of Parliament.
There are two avenues for bills passed by Parliament and vetoed by the President. One is to pass the bill again without any changes. The other is to send it to a relevant committee. If the bill is to be thrown out of Parliament, it has to be first decided by a committee. The bill can be thrown out by passing the committee report at the Parliament floor.
