The parliamentary committee on independent institutions has passed the media control bill in secret after locking out journalists from the meeting room.
The government-backed bill was passed by a supermajority of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) in the committee.
Some changes were brought to the bill during the committee stage. Journalists expressed frustration because the committee did not consider a petition against the bill before calling for a vote.
The committee was adjourned after journalists and some members of the public began protesting. The meeting was rescheduled for 5:00 pm to discuss the petition.
Galolhu South MP Meekail Naseem from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said he waited in the room for 20 minutes for the meeting to begin.
But the government-controlled committee began the meeting as soon as he left for a short break and concluded the meeting before his return.
Journalists were also in the waiting area to enter the committee after completing security clearance, but were not allowed inside the room.
“The issues mentioned in the letter have been addressed with the amendments we have proposed,” Baarashu MP Ibrahim Shujau said in response to the petition.
However, the amendments do not resolve any of the issues in the petition and more stringent measures have been included in the final bill.
