Janab’s finger-pointing during angry tirade ‘scares’ Fitte, prompts rebuke from Speaker

North Machangolhi MP Ibrahim Mohamed (Janab) unleashed an angry tirade during which he pointed fingers at both Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyad (Fitte) and Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla on Wednesday, accusing the former of deliberately disrupting his speech, and the latter of allowing it to happen.

The incident took place during the debate on the organ transplant bill – which was sent back to the Parliament by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, citing the legislature’s decision to remove provisions in the original bill drafted by the Attorney General’s Office which barred individuals in state custody, or any individual serving a prison sentence or detained on suspicion of committing a crime from donating their organs.

He said he does not believe incarcerated individuals can provide truly voluntary, coercion-free consent to donate their organs.

Lawmakers from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) were quick to blame this on failure of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) members, who hold a supermajority in the Parliament, to properly review or debate on government bills before passing them.

During the debate, Janab said the MDP hadn’t even submitted such a bill back when they held power. He said that the organ transplant bill requires a lot of legal consideration.

He grew increasingly angry as he spoke, and pointed at Fitte and asked what MDP lawmakers were doing back during former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration when it allegedly allowed Israeli doctors to visit the country and steal the corneas of Maldivian citizens.

“Where were the members? We will not allow the opportunity to commit such vile acts. This is why I tell you, if you want more time…” he said, before he had his mic cut off

Abdul Raheem asked Janab to sit down and respect the Parliament’s standing orders, and allow Fitte to present a point of order he raised at that point.

But he continued his angry outburst, pointing his fingers at Abdul Raheem.

“It is stipulated in the standing orders that all honorable members of the Parliament, regardless of who you are, must wait when the presidency asks you to wait. I have repeatedly asked you to wait for a moment,” responded Abdul Raheem.

When allowed to raise his point of order, Fitte noted that parliamentarians are required to face the presidency when speaking.

“I am not someone you held office of the president. I’m pointing this out because he’s scaring me with his stare,” said Fitte, referring to Janab’s actions.

Abdul Raheem accepted the point of order, and then allowed Fitte to join the debate.

But Janab interrupted Fitte with a point of order, and said he condemns the decision by Abdul Raheem to obstruct his speech.

“I condemn the move to stop me as I tried to explain to the people and members some very important legal matters pertaining to the bill,” said Janab.

Responding to this, Abdul Raheem said that the standing orders allow him to interrupt lawmakers to allow for a point of order to be raised.

“The presidency did so because we felt it right to do so. This is not something the standing orders allow room for condemnation by members of Parliament,” he said.

The organ transplant bill has been re-admitted to the Parliament, and sent to the Social Affairs Committee for review.