Hassan Zareer, MP for Mathivari Constituency, has said that the opposition and journalists will not be able to shape the Media Regulation Bill according to their wishes.
Speaking in an interview with a Maldivian media outlet, Zareer acknowledged that while the bill is ambiguous in defining what constitutes a threat to national security, its overall intent is clear. He criticised journalists for focusing on the bill’s shortcomings without properly examining its content.
Zareer also noted that while opposition advocates for press freedom, “the tone will change” when in power. He highlighted past restrictions on the press under the MDP, saying that many journalists have been arrested and action taken against them.
He further stressed that in a small, resource-limited country like the Maldives, news can have a significant impact, and laws must align with the Constitution. Any necessary amendments to the bill, he said, will be made accordingly.
Speaking in an interview with a Maldivian media outlet, Zareer acknowledged that while the bill is ambiguous in defining what constitutes a threat to national security, its overall intent is clear. He criticised journalists for focusing on the bill’s shortcomings without properly examining its content.
Zareer also noted that while opposition advocates for press freedom, “the tone will change” when in power. He highlighted past restrictions on the press under the MDP, saying that many journalists have been arrested and action taken against them.
He further stressed that in a small, resource-limited country like the Maldives, news can have a significant impact, and laws must align with the Constitution. Any necessary amendments to the bill, he said, will be made accordingly.
