Malé, Maldives – The Maldives Parliament, today, approved Uz. Ahmed Ahid Rasheed with 49 votes.
The proposed candidates for the position of Information Commissioner include Shiham Mohamed Waheed, Ahmed Ahid Rasheed, Maryam Aleem and Azleema Ahmed. Ahid was the only candidate that received one-third of the votes at the committee phase and was the only one asked for a vote on the parliament floor.
The Information Commissioner’s Office was established on July 13, 2014, as per Article 43 (a) of the RTI Act. The information commissioner is mandated with the enforcement of the RTI Act – the law defines the right to access and obtain information in any state institution and encourages the widest circulation of information available at state institutions. The also mandates for a new commissioner to be appointed within 60 days of the vacancy.
The position has been vacant since March 21, 2021, following the resignation of Hussain Fiyaz Moosa to work at his own online news website. President Solih has submitted candidates to the parliament approval previously with none receiving approval leaving the post vacant until Ahid’s approval today.
