Huraa MP Anara Naeem has faced criticism for saying that she prioritized the "team" or party in the vote to remove two Supreme Court justices.
Anara, who belongs to the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), did not vote when the bill was passed by the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. However, she voted in favour in the parliament chamber this morning.
In a post on X after the vote, Anara said she usually expresses her views during the committee stage but believes she should stay with the team when deciding something by majority.
Social media users who responded to the post have expressed anger for "betraying the people."
"It is a betrayal of the people for running for parliament as an independent candidate and then joining a team that does unlawful things," one person wrote.
In last year's parliamentary elections, Anara was elected as an independent candidate but later joined the ruling party.
"You have become a traitor to the country. You have a treacherous and deceptive mindset. You have the option to vote as you want," another person wrote.
Former MP Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) said MPs are the ones who decide things and the people do not elect them to a team.
"Who elects such people to represent the people? The purpose of parliament is to freely debate laws and pass them. Staying there to press a button on party orders, even your pay will be haram," he said.
Another person said Anara is an MP who rubber stamps what the government wants and should not misrepresent it.
The amendment bill to the Judicature Act was proposed by Holhudhoo MP Abdul Sattar Mohamed on behalf of the government.
It was proposed to the parliament on Sunday night and accepted for deliberations on Monday afternoon. The Judiciary Committee approved the bill without any changes in just an hour on Tuesday.
The bill was passed by a roll call vote after three opposition MPs were forced to leave the chamber this morning. Sixty-eight ruling party MPs voted in favour while eight opposition MPs voted against it.
However, Hithadhoo Central MP Ahmed Azaan, from the ruling PNC, did not participate in the vote because he believed the bill was "unconstitutional."
According to the bill, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) should determine the two judges to be removed from the court and send their names to parliament within five days of the law coming into force.
The People's Majlis must decide on the removal of the judges within seven days. Judges can be removed by a two-thirds majority of the parliament.
The bill was proposed amid a constitutional case on MP disqualification. In November last year, a subsection (e) was added to Article 73 of the Constitution, specifying new conditions for the removal of MPs.
