President’s Office Dissolves Media Fenda Citing Repeated Non-Compliance
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu opening the Media Fenda on May 29, 2025 | Photo: President’s Office
The President’s Office dissolved the Media Fenda yesterday, citing repeated non-compliance with established guidelines.
Established on 29 May 2025 under the President’s Office, an open space opposite the President’s Office, the Media Fenda aimed to strengthen engagement between the media and Government institutions by providing journalists with timely access to information and facilitating coverage of events. The President’s Office stated that the facility had not been utilised in line with prescribed regulations.
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According to the guidelines, only journalists nominated by local media outlets and issued with Official Passes could access the Media Fenda. However, the President’s Office said individuals without passes repeatedly entered the premises while posing as journalists, breaching the rules. The office also said accredited journalists raised concerns about difficulties in gathering news and information from the area.
The statement noted that continued breaches of public safety regulations and disruptions to individuals visiting Government offices in the Green Zone contributed to the decision. It further cited unauthorised entry, obstruction of news collection, and violations of Green Zone rules as contraventions of provisions governing the facility.
Despite the dissolution, the President’s Office reaffirmed that both the Office and other Government institutions remain fully accessible to journalists.
In a Space hosted on X last night, the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) criticised the decision, pointing out that the Media Fenda had been closed less than four months after opening, shortly after President Dr Mohamed Muizzu pledged full openness and accessibility to the public.
The move comes as journalists and international organisations continue to urge parliament to withdraw the Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, which is under review by the parliamentary Committee on Independent Institutions.
