Parliament’s 241 Committee on Monday tasked a subcommittee with conducting an inquiry into four agreements signed by the previous government.
The decision was approved at the committee’s third meeting yesterday. The inquiry was proposed by Hithadhoo Medhu MP Ahmed Azaan. He proposed inquiries into three agreements.
Azaan proposed finding out why the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) changed its stance after urging former President Abdulla Yameen not to sign a hydrography agreement with India. The agreement was later signed by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s government and the current government decided not to renew it.
He also proposed an inquiry into an agreement related to a military dockyard under construction in Uthuru Thila Falhu, seeking to find out how the agreement was reached. In addition, he also proposed finding out how the Dornier agreement was reached.
“The purpose of this is not looking into cases of people who were here before and exposing them. Our biggest responsibility is to ensure that the highest interest of the Maldives is prioritised when such agreements are made later as well,” Azaan said.
After that, Maamigili MP Qasim Ibrahim proposed seeking information about the previous government’s actions in the maritime boundary dispute between the Maldives and Mauritius.
A four-member subcommittee was formed to look into the two proposals.
Four-member subcommittee
- Hithadhoo Medhu MP Ahmed Azaan Marzooq
- Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim
- Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa
- Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannaan Abubakuru
Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem, chair of the 241 Committee, said he would try to summon officials from the relevant authorities during this week if it was possible.
The main responsibilities of the committee on the security services are exercising oversight over the security services, conducting inquiries into matters related to national security, identifying reforms to national security policies and making proposals to the Majlis.
Cases related to the police, military, Defence Ministry and National Disaster Management Authority are investigated by the 241 Committee. The committee also reviews bills related to the institutions. The committee has powers to order reforms and to take action after conducting inquiries into cases involving the institutions.
