Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) has requested a meeting with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to share concerns over the proposed bill which allows the government to control the media.
In a letter addressed to Muizzu, MJA requested a meeting with the President or senior officials of the political policy division at the President's Office.
"We have officially requested meetings between this association, the journalists' working group on the bill and President Muizzu, Attorney General Ahmed Usham and the ruling party People's National Congress (PNC) parliamentary group which holds parliament majority," MJA said in a post on X.
MJA said it had received "a green signal" on the meetings.
Last week, MJA warned that press freedom in the Maldives would backslide by several years if the proposed bill to create a government-controlled media commission is approved.
In a press release, MJA said the bill would severely restrict the constitutional right to freedom of the press and impose serious obstacles on the work of journalists.
MJA said two-thirds of the new commission should be representative of various media outlets, editors, senior and junior journalists, media and civil society organisations.
