Applications Open to Fill Vacant Seat on Media Commission

The People’s Majlis today invited applications to fill a vacant seat on the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission (MMBC), following the resignation of the regulatory body’s president, Mohamed Farushath.

Established late last year, the commission is composed of four industry-elected representatives alongside three members appointed by parliament. Members serve a five-year term and are restricted to a maximum of two terms, consecutive or otherwise. Farushath was previously appointed by the parliament and endorsed as the president of the commission by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

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Candidates must be at least 30 years old and hold a first degree in journalism, broadcasting, policymaking, or administration, or possess a minimum of five years of work experience in the media industry.

Under the statutory eligibility criteria, applicants must not hold editorial roles, have ownership stakes in media or communications enterprises, or belong to any political party. They must also not occupy any elected or appointed public office under the Constitution or statutory law.

Further disqualifications apply to individuals with convictions for criminal fraud, bribery, drug trafficking, child sexual abuse, or offences carrying an Islamic hadd penalty.

Interested candidates are required to submit their application forms, declarations, criminal and debt clearance records, national identity card copies, CVs, and verified educational certificates to the parliamentary secretariat by 12:00 p.m. on November 16.

During the commission’s initial formation, four members representing the media industry were appointed without a vote after running uncontested: Abdul Azeez Ibrahim, Zam’ath Ahmed Waheed, Simaha Naseem, and Hussain Sageef.

The other two parliamentary appointees were former president of the Broadcasting Commission Sofa Shafeeq and former commissioner Aminath Sarahath Izzath.

Farushath stepped down from both the presidency and his membership last week, submitting his immediate resignation in a letter to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. In his letter, he cited “insurmountable challenges” in executing the commission’s statutory mandate comprehensively and administering affairs with fairness and equality toward all media outlets, while urging the regulatory body to strictly uphold professional ethics, equity, and impartiality.