The Maldives Reform Movement (MRM) has said that former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is shocked that coalition not aiding the passing of Bill to empower Presidential Commissions at Parliament.

Spokesperson of MRM Thazmeel Abdul Samad informed the press regarding the matter yesterday. He said that the Bill not passing through Parliament while the ruling party holds the majority, is not the situation as it should be.

MRM spokesperson further noted that former President Maumoon had been one of the voices at the forefront of fighting against major corruption in Maldives.

As such, Thazmeel said that while the government coalition includes President Maumoon as well, it is sometimes hard to witness these kinds of acts.

He added that such a long delay in the passing of the Bill severely obstructs the rights owed to the people.

While MRM has expressed concern over the delay at Parliament, the Bill empowering Presidential Commissions has been stalled at Parliament for the past three sittings. The Presidential Commissions being empowered by the Bill involve the Commission on Investigation of Murder and Enforced Disappearances as well as the Commission on Corruption and Asset Recovery.

Speaker of Parliament, Qasim Ibrahim has said that the Bill presented for debate was different from what had been approved by the Committee and that six members of the Committee had submitted a letter noting this change. He then moved to remove the Bill off the Parliamentary Agenda. The Bill has now been re-submitted to the Parliamentary Committee of Independent Institutions for research.

While the Bill had been scheduled for a vote on Monday, the minimum number of members that have to be present to fulfil quorum for this Bill is 43 members of Parliament. The Constitution states that this number of MP attendance is required for any Bill that impacts an Act that needs to be followed by the citizens of Maldives.