Parliament has today approved former Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP for Laamu Maavah, Abdul Azeez Jamal Abubakur, to the newly created post of information commissioner with 60 votes in favour, 19 votes against, and two abstentions.
The office of the information commissioner was established earlier this month by President Abdulla Yameen under the landmark Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The commissioner’s tenure is five years and has the power enforce a fine on information officers who deliberately refuse access to information. Such a fine may not exceed MVR5000 (US$324).
The commissioner may also fine any individual who destroys requested information, obstructs a public authority or the Information Officer’s from providing access to information. Such a fine may not exceed MVR25,000 (US$ 1621).
Parliament also approved the reappointment of Aishath Zahira as the deputy governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority with unanimous consent of 80 MPs participating in the vote.
