The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) has requested a four-month period to draft a new bill, rejecting the current Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill.

Following a meeting with media outlets held yesterday by the Independent Institutions Committee of the People's Majlis, MJA Executive Director Mohamed Junaid said there seems to be no reason or urgency to hastily pass the current proposed bill.

"MJA has requested the committee in writing to grant at least a four-month period. This is to review the current regulatory system and to bring recommendations from MJA to the committee along with an analysis of the currently proposed bill," he said.

Junaid expressed hope that the committee would grant this opportunity and urged not to allow things to go wrong when there's a chance to do it right.

Regarding this, MJA Secretary General Ahmed Naif said that this is a very large bill containing many technical aspects, and therefore time would be needed.

In yesterday's meeting with the Independent Institutions Committee, media outlets also called for rejecting the current bill and working on a new bill in consultation with journalists, media outlets, and stakeholders. Previously, the Maldives Media Council (MMC) and the Broadcasting Commission had also spoken against this bill.

Although the committee had scheduled meetings for today with MJA, Attorney General Ahmed Usham, and Information Minister Ibrahim Waheed (Asward), these meetings were later canceled.