Minister Highlights Media Distrust in Regulatory Bodies, Advocates for Merged Commission Under New Bill

The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts, Ibrahim Waheed has openly stated that the local media industry no longer trusts the existing regulatory bodies, the Maldives Media Council (MMC) and the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom).

Speaking on PSM News’ ‘Raajje Miadhu’ programme about the recently passed Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, Minister Ibrahim Waheed positioned the new legislation as a crucial step towards restoring faith and addressing long-standing issues within the sector.

The Minister presented a stark assessment of the current landscape, challenging viewers to directly question media owners.

"Ask a TV channel owner if he trusts the Broadcasting Commission. He will say no. Broadcasters don't trust the Broadcasting Commission. Ask online media if they trust the Media Council. They will say it lacks proper mechanisms to look into complaints. The media agree that both bodies have failed. Since they agree on that, I'm asking them to test this," the Minister asserted, emphasising the pervasive lack of confidence that has left media stakeholders without effective recourse or resolution to their problems.

At the heart of the new bill is a significant structural overhaul - the merger of the MMC and Broadcom into a single, independent body tasked with overseeing all media affairs. This unified commission under the new bill, as amended by Parliament, will comprise seven members, with four appointed from the media industry and three from the public—a notable change from an earlier version of the bill that granted the President a role in appointments.

Minister Ibrahim Waheed was keen to clarify the bill's scope, stating unequivocally that it applies only to registered media outlets in the Maldives and will not extend to social media of the public, content creators, or social media activists.

Beyond regulation, the Minister highlighted the bill's commitment to nurturing the industry.
"Now the bill will clearly state how they will be able to earn revenue," he explained, adding that the state budget would allocate funds for the new Media Commission, whose responsibilities will include accrediting journalists, thereby promoting professional development.

Responding to criticism, the Minister underscored that the Parliament-passed bill incorporates numerous amendments proposed by the government, effectively addressing journalists' concerns.

He cautioned the public against misinformation, stating the opposition's arguments often refer to previous versions of the bill, not the significantly amended one.

Minister Waheed also offered assurances to journalists, stating there would be "nothing to worry about in the bill."

This sentiment was echoed by the Counsel General of the Parliament, who has confirmed that the Media Bill contains no article contrary to the Constitution, reinforcing its legal robustness and intent to foster a more trusted and developed media landscape in the Maldives.