Male’, Maldives — Parliamentary representative for Dhaalu Atoll’s Meedhoo constituency Ahmed Siyam (Sun Siyam) on Sunday, asserted that it is “not necessary to attend parliament meetings every day”.
Previously, leaked reports pertaining to parliamentary attendance revealed MP Siyam to have incurred the most number of absences. Across the 105 parliamentary sessions held in 2020, MP Siyam was reported to have attended no more than eight meetings in total.
During a broadcast interview with local media outlet CNM, the parliamentarian iterated that his presence would not be required on a daily basis, adding that many of the discussions were over “useless matters” or “discourse that does not benefit the people”.
He said that it is more important that parliament members act in a manner that serves the people.
I always attend the most important parliament meetings. It is not necessary to go to the parliament every day, simply to sit there, doing nothing.
MP Ahmed Siyam, Dh. Meedhoo constituency
After a significant hiatus, MP Siyam resurfaced at the Parliament, attending the meeting held by the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (241 Committee)regarding the assassination attempt on incumbent Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed, former Maldives’ president.
The MP denied having any hidden agenda for choosing to attend the specific meeting, claiming that harboring or acting on such intentions was not in his nature.
Further, dubbing the events of May 6 “a terrorist attack”, MP Siyam said that such an attempt against Speaker Nasheed was a major move against the whole country. As the 241 Committee is investigating the case, MP Siyam said that he believed it was his duty, as a parliamentarian, to ensure his attendance at such an important meeting.
