Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said that the People’s Majlis is failing to hold the government accountable, leaving journalists as the sole remaining force to perform this critical duty.
Speaking at the ceremony marking the 11th anniversary of Sangu TV, Nasheed emphasized that national prosperity is achieved only when truth is spoken and open debate is fostered. Without such transparency, he warned, the door remains open for projects to be awarded to the wrong people at inflated prices.
"When government spending and state affairs are conducted without transparency, it is the citizens who suffer the consequences. Journalism, as the Fourth Estate, is the power within the state that must protect the people from such harm," said Nasheed, who has a background in journalism himself.
Nasheed described the Fourth Estate as the most vital power because it oversees the other three branches of the state. He further noted that a democracy can only function if journalism is practiced with complete independence.
"You [journalists] are the ones who must watch over our work. Our efforts only yield results when you remain vigilant," Nasheed said.
"Safety and security are not achieved through the bullets of a gun. They are secured by speaking the truth, clarifying matters for the public, and ensuring that rights are not infringed upon through clear and honest dialogue."
Nasheed remarked that the Parliament, which is constitutionally mandated to hold the government accountable, is failing to do so, noting that even the opposition has begun praising the government. His comments appeared to reference the decision by some opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs to grant parliamentary approval to President Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet ministers.
"Journalists are the ones left to do this work; they are the ones who must bring the reality and truth of these matters to our citizens," Nasheed said.
These remarks come amid concerns that Muizzu’s administration is utilizing state institutions to dismantle the environment for independent journalism and exert pressure on media outlets and reporters.
In this year’s World Press Freedom Index, the Maldives ranked 108th out of 180 countries, a decline from its 104th position last year. At the beginning of Muizzu’s term, the Maldives was ranked 100th.
