The Maldives Journalists' Association (MJA) has voiced strong concerns over a new media regulation bill in Parliament that aims to merge the Maldives Media Council (MMC) and Broadcasting Commission into a new entity, the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission.

The MJA argues that the proposed structure, which allows the president to appoint four out of seven commission members, could bring government influence into media regulation and compromise press freedom.

According to the MJA, the bill’s provisions would replace media self-regulation with a government-dominated system, weakening the independence of journalism in the country. The bill also includes measures allowing fines, penalties, and licence suspensions for individual journalists and media outlets that breach its code of conduct, which the MJA sees as a direct threat to media freedom.

The association also criticised the lack of consultation with media professionals during the bill’s drafting and urged Parliament to ensure a structure that would protect media independence.