The voting on Transitional Arrangements scheduled at yesterday’s sitting of the Special Majlis was suspended due to loss of quorum in the second half. At the sitting before the Majlis was adjourned due loss of quorum, only one article was put to vote, i.e. the article stipulation the period of the Transition. The article says unless otherwise specified, the provisions specified in this chapter will only be effective until a president and a Majlis is elected under the revised constitution assumes office.
The article was passed with 71 members in favor out of 93 members in attendance. After the article 1 of the Transitional Arrangements was passed Majlis went in to a round of points of orders. Series of points of orders were taken by Members which lasted for about one and half hours. Members affiliated to DRP called on the Chair to indicate which articles will be put to vote, well in advance. Legal Reform Minister Mr. Mohamed Nasheed taking a point of order called on the Chair to reveal which amendments proposed by Members will be put to vote and which amendments will not be put to vote prior to asking for vote on the articles of the Transitional Chapter.
Many other Members supporting DRP by taking points of orders supported Mr. Nasheed’s proposition and said unless the Chair abide by the proposal DRP Members would not take part in the voting on the Transitional Arrangements. At yesterday’s sitting DRP Members were given clear instructions on how to vote through a whip sheet. The whip sheet called on DRP Members to vote for Mr. Shaheen Hameed and Mr. Mohamed Anil’s amendments as well as Mr. Shaheen Hameed, Ms Aneesa Ahmed and Mr. Mohamed Anil’s proposal. The whip sheet also stated that “majority of the DRP Parliamentary group is not in support of passing any other am amendments other than those mentioned”.
The whip sheet also instructed DRP Members to ask the Chair to ask for votes on amendments which could not be consolidated or agreed up on at unofficial meetings in the order they were proposed prior to asking for votes on the amendments agreed up on at the unofficial meetings. The DRP whip sheet instructed Members to walk out if the Chair decides to act otherwise. Opposition MDP Members and other Members supporting the opposition by taking points of orders said that those amendments which have been agreed upon should be put to vote prior to asking for vote on amendments which could be agreed up on. Opposition Members also repeated asked the Chair to proceed with asking for vote as the procedure was inline with Majlis procedures. The Chair of the Majlis, Speaker Qasim Ibrahim in response to DRP Members points of orders said voting is being called up on amendments agreed up on at unofficial meetings and that those amendments which may conflict with other amendments prior to voting has not been identified.
He further a decision on such amendments will be reached after consultation with Administrative Committee of the Special Majlis. Due to series of points of orders being taken, another article was not put to vote during the first half of the Majlis and Majlis was adjourned in the second half due to loss of quorum. Quorum was lost due to DRP Members and government ministers not attending the Majlis after break time. During the 15 minutes which Speaker Qasim waited for DRP Member to attend so that Majlis could be resumed, opposition Members protested the DRP Members and government ministers who were the cause of loss of quorum. Their protests could be heard at the gallery even though the microphones were turned off. They claimed that it was against Majlis procedures to use the facilities of the Majlis if Members are not attending the sessions.
After the Majlis was adjourned due loss of quorum and when opposition Members came out on the court yard of the Majlis House, some members of the general public who came to witness the proceedings of the Majlis gathered and protested. The protests were very loud and were mainly directed against those Members who were the cause of loss of quorum. Police intervened and dispersed the crowd. A news conference was held at the site at around 12pm by the opposition Members.
When Maldives Police Services started videoing the news conference opposition Members told the Police that just as any other institution they had a right a do that and that they could that even if they come closer and ask questions too. Speaker Mr. Qasim Ibrahim before adjourning the Majlis announced that date for the next sitting will be informed to members later.
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