Saudullah Hilmy, PNC member for Thinadhoo North constituency in the People’s Majlis, has said that the amendment submitted to the People’s Majlis to give the President the power to appoint the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is an amendment to make the institution accountable.
The Independent Institutions Committee has passed a bill submitted to the People’s Majlis by the government to amend the laws of the ACC and the Elections Commission (EC) to give the President the power to appoint the chairpersons of these two commissions.
Debating the committee report today, Saudullah said that when members have the power to elect the chairman of the commissions, sometimes conflicts of interest arise. He also said that he is aware that some other issues also occur.
Saudullah said that under the amendment to the law, the chairpersons of the commissions are being appointed with the approval of the People’s Majlis of the Maldives, and those appointed by the Majlis become the chairpersons. Therefore, he said this is the best way even from a democratic perspective.
“The members of that commission are also appointed by passing through the Majlis. So even if some people try to change it in another way, that’s not something that will change. The people approved by the Majlis are the people approved by the public,” Saudullah said.
Saudullah said that even if the amendment is passed, the current members of the commissions will remain in their positions. He said that the amendment will come into effect when their terms end. Therefore, he said this is not about making changes to the commissions immediately. He said it’s an amendment brought to make them accountable in the future.
