Decentralization Amendment Petition Obtains Signatures Needed for Debate

More than 2,100 people have signed a petition opposing a proposed amendment to the Decentralisation of Administrative Areas Act that would allow the State to acquire land under the jurisdiction of island and city councils.

The petition, submitted through the Parliament’s e-petition portal by social activist Midhuam Saud, has reached the threshold required for it to be classified as a special petition. Under parliamentary rules, a petition that receives at least 2,100 signatures, equivalent to 0.5 per cent of the voting population, must be referred to the relevant parliamentary committee for consideration.

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As a special petition, the issue is also required to be brought to the attention of the Government and placed on the agenda for debate during one of the next three parliamentary sittings.

The petition is reportedly the first submitted through the Parliament’s e-petition system to reach such a number of signatures.

The petition argues that the proposed amendment would weaken the authority of directly elected local councillors by transferring powers relating to land within council jurisdictions to the central Government. It also raises concerns over provisions that could allow action to be taken against councillors who do not cooperate with Government decisions.

The amendment was submitted by Thulhaadhoo Constituency independent MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru and received its preliminary debate in Parliament last week.

Presenting the bill, Hannan said the proposed changes were intended to facilitate island development and the implementation of national development projects. He argued that political disagreements between the central Government and local councils could delay projects and ultimately disadvantage island communities.

The proposed amendment would allow the central Government to acquire land or areas within the jurisdiction of island and city councils when required for Government development projects.

Hannan has maintained that the changes are aimed at establishing a legal framework to ensure cooperation from councils and prevent delays to development initiatives.

However, the proposal has faced opposition from several MDP MPs, as well as some island councils. A number of councils have reportedly passed resolutions opposing the amendment.

During the parliamentary debate, opposition MPs repeatedly raised constitutional concerns. They argued that Parliament should not proceed with legislation that they believe conflicts with the Constitution.

Kendhoo Constituency MP Mauroof Zakir said the Constitution requires the Maldives to operate under a decentralised system of governance. He argued that amendments to provisions of the Decentralisation Act that protect local government authority could therefore raise constitutional concerns.

The petition’s classification as a special petition means the issue is now expected to receive further consideration through Parliament’s committee and plenary processes, while debate over the proposed amendment continues.