Journalists have plenty of freedom in Maldives: Saeed

Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed said today that the actions of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu demonstrate the complete freedom journalists enjoy in the country.

After meeting with the Maldives Journalists Association and senior journalists at the President's Office, President Muizzu was approached by the journalists who had been protesting outside the Presidential Palace since morning. Some journalists questioned the President about the controversial Media Regulatory Bill and its potential withdrawal, but he did not provide a clear answer.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Minister Saeed emphasized that the government has granted journalists freedoms that, he claimed, no other country in the world offers.

He noted that journalists have been peacefully protesting in the green zone since early morning to raise their voices. Meanwhile, Youth Minister Ibrahim Waheed (Asward) and President's Office Minister for Strategic Communications Ibrahim Khaleel met with the protesters to listen to their concerns.

President Muizzu personally met with the MJA at the President’s Office, taking the time to hear their concerns directly after the journalists requested the meeting, Saeed said.

Journalists have been given 10 days to submit their comments and suggested amendments to the bill, he added.

“The government has chosen patience, even when some people, claiming to be journalists, shouted and touched the President as he walked by,” Saeed said.

He also praised Attorney General Ahmed Usham for allowing journalists to express their views freely during today’s press conference.

Protests against the Media Regulatory Bill introduced by MP Abdul Hannan have continued near the President's Office and Mulee Aage since yesterday.

During a meeting today, President Muizzu affirmed the government’s full support for the media, emphasizing it has no intention to control media regulation or interfere with appointments to regulatory bodies.

The President’s Office announced plans to propose amendments addressing concerns in the bill, and Attorney General Ahmed Usham stated he does not recommend withdrawing the bill but is open to making amendments.