Govt: Cabinet approval and mandate approval always carried out separately

The government’s chief spokesperson Mohamed Shaheeb, on Monday, remarked the approval of the cabinet ministers and approval of the ministry’s mandates have always been carried out separately.

Parliament Speaker Mohamed Aslam, citing the report formulated by the committee following their review of the motion on granting approval to the cabinet of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to be incomplete, sent back the motion to the committee at Monday’s parliamentary sitting, effectively delaying the approval for the cabinet ministers.

Speaking to Sun on the matter, Spokesperson Shaheeb said he did not wish to comment regarding the proceedings of the parliament.

However, he added that the approval of the cabinet minister and the approval of the ministry’s mandates have been carried out separately since 2008, adding that the government was undertaking efforts related to the mandates.

The approval of the cabinet was on the agenda of Monday’s sitting.

Once Speaker Aslam, who was presiding over the sitting, announced the agenda, Thulhaadhoo MP Hisan Hussain took a point of order during which she pointed out that the committee’s report on granting approval to the cabinet was incomplete. Therefore, she said she does not believe a vote can be asked for at today’s sitting, on the approval.

MP Hisan said the current administration has not submitted the mandates of the ministries for approval of the parliament despite 30 days having passed since the new ministries were established which has deprived the parliament of reviewing the mandates during the committee stage.

In this trajectory, she said the committee’s report, while without review of the mandates, does not also detail why they see it fit to grant approval or not grant approval to the individuals and to fulfill what responsibilities.

She also noted that committees must make a definitive decision regarding motions forwarded to the respective committee for review as per Article 200 of the parliament’s regulations.

MP Hisan, who has served as the president of the Judicial Service Commission, said a vote can only be asked on the floor once the committee has made a definitive decision. Citing these reasons, she said she does not believe a vote can be asked for on granting approval for the cabinet ministers on the account of the report presently put forth.

Speaker Aslam decided to accept the point of order following which he held discussions with the parliament’s majority and minority leaders on the matter.

After the discussions, Speaker Aslam announced that the committee’s report lacked the requirements stipulated in Article 200 of the parliament’s regulation. In light of this, he decided to send back the motion to the committee. 

Subsequently, members representing the government PPM-PNC coalition expressed discontent, citing the speaker could not make such a decision. The members claimed a floor vote was required to send the motion back to the committee.