Ibrahim Falah, the Parliamentary Group Leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC), has clarified that the proposed amendment to the Decentralization Act was not submitted by the government. The amendment, introduced by the independent Member of Parliament for Thulhaadhoo constituency, Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru, seeks to grant the government the authority to reclaim lands within council jurisdictions for the implementation of development projects.
While opposition members have characterized the bill as a government-led effort to undermine the decentralization system, Falah emphasized that every individual member possesses the constitutional right to propose legislation. In response to the growing concerns from local councilors and the public regarding this amendment, a petition has been launched calling for the bill’s withdrawal. The petition asserts that the proposed changes would centralize power within the Cabinet and significantly diminish the authority granted to the people through their local representatives.
