Maldives Immigration has stated that 33 expatriates who were staying in K. Thilafushi without valid visas have been taken into Immigration custody.

Immigration said that a special raid operation targeting illegal expatriates in Thilafushi was conducted by the Task Force yesterday morning.

Immigration said that 257 expatriates were checked during this raid, which involved 28 officers from their department and 35 police officers.

Out of these, 33 expatriates who were staying without valid visas have been taken into Immigration custody, while 22 people were given written notices, according to Immigration.

Since the current government came to power, efforts have been underway to find expatriates staying illegally in the Maldives and take action against them. As part of this effort, more than 4,000 expatriates have been deported so far.

According to statistics shared by Immigration, from November 17 of last year to the 17th of last month, 4,054 expatriates who were staying illegally in the Maldives have been sent back to their countries. The highest number of expatriates were deported in June of this year.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the Maldives will always stand with the people of Lebanon.

The President made this statement in a congratulatory message sent to the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Mohammed Najib Azmi Mikati, on the occasion of Lebanon’s Independence Day.

In his message to Lebanese Prime Minister Mohammed Najib Azmi Mikati, the President extended his sincere best wishes to the government and people of Lebanon on the occasion of their Independence Day.

In the President’s message, he also expressed hope that the longstanding fraternal relations between the two countries would be further strengthened.

Noting that this Independence Day comes at a time when Lebanon is facing many challenges, the President assured that the Maldives would always stand with their Lebanese brothers and sisters.

In his message, the President wished good health to the Prime Minister of Lebanon and progress and prosperity for the people of Lebanon.

 completed. The Chinese team arrived in the Maldives on the 3rd of this month to survey the roads in Male’ and Vilimale’. The team began the work of assessing the condition of roads in Male’ and Vilimale’ and collecting important information for the survey on the 5th of this month. This work has continued until today.

The Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure said that while the practical work of rebuilding roads in Male’ and Vilimale’ has now begun, after a series of meetings with important stakeholders, the experts assembled by the Chinese government have completed the work of assessing the condition of the roads. During this period, the team has conducted the feasibility study of Male’ and Vilimale’ roads together with the technical team of the ministry.

The next phase of this project will be the design phase. The ministry has not yet revealed a date for when this will begin. The work of rebuilding all the roads in Male’ is being carried out under a grant aid from the Chinese government. This project is being implemented under the 130 million dollar grant aid decided to be provided under the agreements signed with that country.

While the roads in Male’ are severely damaged and potholed, they become heavily flooded as soon as it rains. According to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, once China completes rebuilding the roads to modern standards, a solution will also be found for the flooding issue.

In a video message tonight, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu emphasised the significance of today’s constitutional amendments passed by the People’s Majlis, describing them as crucial for both the nation and its people. He stated that these amendments would strengthen the country’s independence and sovereignty whilst creating a framework for national stability.

The President explained a key change regarding territorial modifications. Previously, such changes required a two-thirds majority approval from the People’s Majlis. The new amendment strengthens this requirement to a three-quarters majority. Additionally, the country’s maritime territory can now be defined up to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and any changes to these territorial boundaries will require both a three-quarters majority in the People’s Majlis and approval through a public referendum.

A significant addition to the Constitution now requires parliamentary approval before any foreign military personnel can be deployed within Maldivian territory.

Regarding public referendums, the President highlighted another important change. Whilst the People’s Majlis could previously amend referendum-related articles, the new amendment mandates that any changes to matters involving public referendums must first be approved through a public referendum itself.

The President emphasised two other crucial amendments: the inclusion of the ‘Anti-Defection’ law into the Constitution to improve political stability, and the addition of presidential responsibilities for developing short, medium and long-term national development plans.

President Dr Muizzu described these as critical decisions made with patriotic fervour and national spirit, serving to protect Maldivian citizens’ rights whilst safeguarding the country’s independence, sovereignty, development and stability. He concluded the message by expressing his gratitude to the Members of Parliament for their role in passing these significant reforms.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed departed for the United Kingdom on Wednesday evening on an unofficial visit.

During the visit, the President will personally cover all expenses related to the trip, including those associated with administrative duties, as well as family and personal matters.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of the Maldives. Passed by the 20th Parliament during its 52nd sitting on November 20, 2024, the amendment introduces five significant changes to the constitutional framework.

The amendment adds subsection (e) to Article 73, specifying new conditions for the removal of Members of Parliament. A member will lose their seat if they defect from the political party under whose ticket they were elected, join a political party after being elected as an independent candidate, or voluntarily leave or are expelled from their political party while in office.

Changes to Articles 3(a) and 3(b) establish that any modification to the territory of the Maldives must be enacted through a law passed by at least three-fourths of all members of Parliament. The territory includes the Maldives’ land, airspace, sea, seabed, and territorial waters as defined by law.

Amendments to Article 115(e) expand the President’s powers, granting authority to determine key national policies, provide advice and guidance to state agencies, and formulate national development plans and strategic visions.

Article 251(c) now regulates the use of Maldivian territory for military purposes by non-nationals. Such use is allowed only through agreements or arrangements approved by a parliamentary majority, except for military exercises conducted under contractual terms.

A new subsection has also been added to Article 262(b), requiring a public referendum to confirm popular support for laws altering the country’s territory or for constitutional amendments passed by Parliament.

The Sixth Amendment aims to strengthen political accountability, safeguard national sovereignty, and ensure public participation in critical national decisions.

The ratified amendments have been published in the Government Gazette and are now in effect.

An evening session has been scheduled today to pass the bill proposing amendments to the Constitution, which includes a provision for members of parliament to lose their seats if they change their political party after being elected.

The bill was debated in the parliament this morning. Following the debate, a vote was taken on whether to accept the bill in the parliament. 69 members voted in favor, while 12 members voted against it.

Subsequently, the bill was sent to the Committee of the Whole House for further study, and committee meetings have already begun.

According to today’s evening agenda, the committee’s report on the bill is to be presented. There is also a voting session scheduled for matters that have reached the conclusion stage from the day’s work.

Today’s evening session is scheduled for 5:30 PM.

The bill proposes four main amendments to the Constitution. One amendment requires a two-thirds majority approval from the Parliament before making any changes to the Maldivian territory.

The most significant amendment in the bill introduces two new conditions under which parliamentary members can lose their seats. These conditions are: if an elected member switches to another political party during the term of the parliament, or if an independent member signs with a political party.

The bill also proposes to grant additional powers to the President. This includes giving the President the authority to determine major state policies, provide directives to government institutions, and formulate national development plans and visions.

The proposed amendments also state that foreign military personnel can only be stationed for military purposes with the approval of a parliamentary majority. It also allows foreign military personnel to participate in non-military activities and training exercises under agreements.

The first law that resulted in the loss of parliamentary seats for members who change parties was enacted during the presidency of former President Abdulla Yameen. However, when MDP came to power, they repealed that law. Nevertheless, towards the end of the last term of the People’s Majlis, MDP reintroduced a similar law.

President Muizzu is continuously working to empower the people – Muhtaz

Deputy Ambassador of Maldives to Singapore, Muhtaz Muhsin, has stated that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is continuously working to empower the people.

Muhtaz, who previously held the position of Prosecutor General, made this statement in a post on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the government’s proposed constitutional amendment that would result in the loss of parliamentary seats for members who change parties.

Muhsin said that those who oppose empowering the people are now being exposed. He stated that President Muizzu is continuously working to give the power back to the people, and the proposed constitutional amendment is evidence of this.

The bill proposing amendments to the constitution includes four main changes. One amendment is to require a two-thirds majority approval from the Parliament before making any changes to the Maldivian territory.

The most significant amendment in the bill introduces two new conditions under which parliamentary members can lose their seats. These conditions are: if an elected member switches to another political party during the term of the parliament, or if an independent member signs with a political party.

The bill also proposes to grant additional powers to the President. This includes giving the President the authority to determine major state policies, provide directives to government institutions, and formulate national development plans and visions.

The proposed amendments also state that foreign military personnel can only be stationed for military purposes with the approval of a parliamentary majority. It also allows foreign military personnel to participate in non-military activities and training exercises under agreements.

The first law that resulted in the loss of parliamentary seats for members who change parties was enacted during the presidency of former President Abdulla Yameen. However, when MDP came to power, they repealed that law. Nevertheless, towards the end of the last term of the People’s Majlis, MDP reintroduced a similar law.

The amendment proposed to the Constitution to prevent members of the People’s Majlis from changing parties is a praiseworthy step towards strengthening democracy, according to Hussain Fahmy, Managing Director of STELCO.

Regarding the bill, Fahmy said he thanks the government for proposing such an amendment. He stated that it is a commendable step taken to strengthen democracy, further improve the current Anti-Defection Law, and promote accountability and transparency in proceedings.

“I call upon all members of the Majlis to prioritize and quickly pass this proposed amendment, learning from the systems established in developed countries like the United Kingdom and the United States. I believe that amending the Constitution to prevent members of the People’s Majlis from changing parties is an important change that will promote corruption-free democracy, increase political stability, and strengthen the independence of the judiciary,” Fahmy said.

He added that elected representatives changing parties during their term erodes public trust, hinders governance, and paves the way for unethical practices contrary to public morals. Fahmy stated that the proposed amendment directly addresses these challenges by preventing party-switching often done for personal gain and temporary benefits.

“By enhancing transparency and accountability in the legislative process, this amendment will ensure that members of the People’s Majlis remain committed to their mandate and the promises made to the people they serve, stabilizing the political environment. Furthermore, this amendment will greatly ensure the independence of the judiciary,” Fahmy said.

Fahmy stated that maintaining a transparent and responsible legislature free from political influence would provide the judiciary with the opportunity to uphold laws. He also mentioned that similar laws in other countries have clearly shown to play a crucial role in running a responsible, sustainable, and stable democracy.

Fahmy described this as a historic opportunity to strengthen the democratic framework of the Maldives and safeguard the integrity of political institutions. He urged to seize this opportunity to secure a brighter, more responsible, and ethical future for the country.

The Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis and Member for Dhiggaru Constituency, Ahmed Nazim, has stated that if the People’s Majlis becomes a marketplace for buying and selling, the development we are trying to achieve cannot be realized.

Speaking during today’s debate on the proposed amendments to the Constitution, Nazim said that this bill is very important. He stated that today’s opportunity is a chance to address three very important matters.

“The first is to change it so that if there is any change to what is defined as our maritime territory, it can only be done with the approval of the People’s Majlis. This is something tied to nationality, economy, and blood,” Nazim said.

He said the other amendment is related to the loss of Majlis members’ seats. Looking at the background, Nazim stated that the Anti-Defection Law passed by the previous Majlis is not a law that has been given constitutional oversight. He said that law can be described as a toothless giant. The reason, he explained, is that while the Constitution specifies the conditions under which a Majlis seat can be lost, the law exists in a way that doesn’t match any of those conditions. Nazim said that the law has not been given constitutional protection.

“If we are to take the country to a better place than it is now, we need to establish trust and confidence within the Majlis. If the Majlis becomes a marketplace for buying and selling, the development we’re trying to achieve cannot be realized,” Nazim said.

Nazim has stated that after being elected to the Majlis on a party ticket supporting a particular president, one should remain with that party. He noted that we have seen in the past how a single member’s action has changed the outcome of a vote in the Majlis.