Parliament has passed an amendment to the Bill to revise the National Security Act of Maldives, which will mandate the parliament to endorse hiring and firing of the Chief of the Defense Force. Also according to the amendment, once the name is nominated for the parliament, it will send the name to a committee which will analyze the name and report back to the Parliament. If the nominee is to be appointed as the Chief of the Defense Force, he would have to get majority votes at the Parliament.

The amendment to the draft bill to amend the National Security Act was proposed by MP for Hanimaadhoo Mohamed Mujuthaaz and seconded by MP for vilimafannu Ahmed Nihaan Hussain Maniku. As the vote went into a 35-35 tier, Speaker voted in favour of the amendment. However another amendment to the bill was proposed by MDP MP Maria Ahmed Didi which was also adopted by 35 votes in favour and 33 against. Once the amendment was passed the meeting was suspended because of the tension. Maria’s amendment was in direct contradiction to the earlier one, and stipulated that Commander-in-Chief shall appoint the Chief of the Defense Force.

However, Parliament has not passed the entire bill.