No Disciplinary Action Against Members on Ethics Committee

Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) members did not take action against members of parliament involved in ejecting a matter presented to the ethics committee by former President and incumbent Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed.

The complaint in relation to Deputy Minister of Defense Hassan Zameel signing a letter addressed to the parliament stating individual officers of MNDF will not answer to the parliamentary inquiry into the May 6 attack, was booted from the parliament's ethics committee by four members of MDP.

MP for Thinadhoo-South constituency Abdulla Saneef, MP for Gamu constituency Mohamed Wisam, MP for Komandhoo constituency Hussain Waheed, and MP for Milandhoo constituency Ali Riza all voted against the issue.

Vice President of MDP and the MDP Disciplinary Committee Mohamed Shifaz advocated for penalizing the four members. An MDP official informed Avas News that former Education Minister Dr. Musthafa Luthufi claimed the disciplinary committee could act against the members as the parliamentary group has not decided to pursue the issue. MP for Maafannu-North constituency Imthiyaz Fahmy concurred with Dr. Musthafa.

Avas News reported that according to the MDP official, MDP's parliamentary group attempted to penalize the members, but members with former President Nasheed did not receive majority votes.

The parliament addressed a letter to the Prosecutor General to prosecute Deputy Minister Zameel regarding the defense ministry's letter. The letter to the PG mentioned it was directly from the Speaker of Parliament. The Prosecutor General's Office urged for the issue to be taken up with Police.

The issue with Zameel was brought forth to the parliament committee by former President Nasheed. The matter being voted off triggered disputes among MDP members.