Yesterday's meeting of the People's Majlis was historic, it was the first meeting held under the new Constitution. The meeting was historic because for the first time a member from the opposition was presiding over the meeting. MDP's Parliamentary Group Leader Thaa Member Hassan Afeef who was the longest serving member of the Majlis was in the Chair as Acting Speaker. Afeef with his considerable experience and support from fellow members hoped election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Majlis for the transition period tasked to the meeting would not be a difficult issue. What transpired from the members and political parties, only President's Member and former Speaker Ahmed Zahir and Male' Member Mohamed Shihab will be contesting. They are both able and popular members. Most of the opposition and independent members were thought to be supporting Shihab while President Gayoom's DRP members were fully geared to elect Ahmed Zahir. Just a day before the Constitution was ratified, Speaker Ahmed Zahir resigned from the post of Speaker and six members of the President in the Majlis were relieved from their duties. Zahir and five new President's members were appointed. Zahir was appointed to elect him as the Speaker for the transition period. There will be many important matters the Majlis will decide. It is important to have a DRP member elected to chair the meetings and Zahir was experienced and able, and to win the first election and have a DRP member as the Speaker is crucial for DRP. The election will be a test of DRP's power and popularity.
DRP was confident Zahir will be elected as Speaker and they will have smooth sailing during the transition period. It was a blessing in disguise for DRP, there were divisions and mistrust among the opposition parties. Although Gasim Ibrahim's Jumhoory Party and some other opposition members wanted to Mohamed Shihab to be Speaker during the transition. Shihab too was able and popular. They were confident Shihab will win the election. But things were not as easy as Acting Speaker Afeef and others thought. There were many points of order, several clarifications members wanted. Every detail was discussed, including full secrecy of votes, close circuit cameras, ballot papers. Members were convinced it will be a secret voting and vote papers will be shredded after counting and announcing results. It all happened convincingly. Votes were cast and a six member committee counted the votes. Ballot papers were shredded in the presence of Members.
When Acting Speaker Afeef announced the results, it was a neck to neck result, but as DRP expected, Ahmed Zahir was elected, he received 25 votes while Mohamed Shihab received 23 votes. Shihab and his supporters were shocked. Opposition was surprised. They were so confident of winning this first election under the new Constitution. DRP was naturally overwhelmed by the win, a good omen for their party. Party Leader President Gayoom and his running mate Thasmeen have kicked off their colorful election campaign just two days ago. They promised they will achieve new heights of development for the country. Their have passed in their first big test, Majlis will have their Speaker during the transition.
But DRP's win in the election of Speaker was not to be, Speaker Afeef announced there were some dispute over the vote and he has considered the vote as void following Dhaalu Member Ahmed Shiyam's association with MTDC as a member of its Board of Directors. Shiyam immediately replied he has resigned from that post. But some members said Shiyam has stated he was still in the MTDC Board during the interval of the meeting. Speaker also said there was no communication about Shiyam's resignation from MTDC hence the vote will not be valid. Speaker however told the Majlis it has received a letter about Shiyam's resignation which was handed over to the Speaker at that time. There were concern from several members about further debating on the matter and they suggested having sufficient time to verify such matters concerning members. Speaker Afeef thus adjourned the meeting informing the next meting will be on Tuesday, 12 August.
Can the Majlis complete the unfinished and disputed election on Tuesday? Will it make any difference? There is a lot of concern by the opposition and general public about electing a non-elected member as the Speaker as the first business of the Majlis under the new Constitution which they feel is against the spirit of the Constitution. DRP has 8 appointed members, Opposition believe, yesterday's vote was a win for them because without the appointed members Zahir received only 16 votes while Shihab got 23 votes. But, it is almost certain Zahir will be elected Speaker even if a second vote is taken on Tuesday. Zahir is respected by both DRP and opposition members as an efficient and impartial Speaker. What the opposition do not like and accept is Zahir is a member appointed by President. But as long as the Constitution allows it in the transition period, there is no way it can be challenged when DRP has a majority to vote for him.
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