Four members appointed to Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission

Four members have been appointed to the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission (MMBC), following the enactment of the new Maldives Media and Broadcasting Act.

Under the law, the seven-member commission comprises four members elected by the media and three appointed by Parliament. The Election Commission (EC) confirmed that five candidates had qualified by the deadline, but with one candidate withdrawing, the remaining four were automatically elected without a vote.

The EC announced the elected members as:

• Zamath Ahmed Waheed, former member of the dissolved Broadcasting Commission  
• Simaha Naseem, journalist at Vaguthu  
• Hussain Sageef, former President of the dissolved Maldives Media Council  
• Abdul Azeez Ibrahim, affiliated with Moonimage/Sh. Feydhoo

According to the EC, Abdul Azeez and Zamath were elected to represent broadcasters, while Simaha and Sageef represent other media professionals. Their formal appointment was confirmed by the President’s Office on Monday.

The remaining three members will be appointed by Parliament.

The MMBC was established under legislation ratified by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, replacing previous media oversight bodies. While several former members of the dissolved Broadcasting Commission, including ex-President Safa Shafeeq, had applied, the media-elected positions saw limited participation.

The bill has drawn criticism from segments of the journalism community, with concerns raised over potential media control.

Since its introduction in Parliament, journalists have staged protests opposing the bill and its implications for press freedom.