.svg)
The rapid milestone reached by the e-petition underscores growing public resistance to centralizing council land control, triggering a mandatory parliamentary response mechanism as signatures continue to climb.
News Desk
Previously held maldives parliament sitting - Photo: People's Majlis
MALÉ: An e-petition urging lawmakers to reject proposed amendments to the Decentralisation Act has successfully crossed its first required parliamentary signature threshold in less than 48 hours.
The petition was launched on the official People’s Majlis portal by Midhuam Saud, founder of the civil society organization Aamunge Jamiyya (Commoners’ NGO). The campaign aims to stop proposed legislative changes that would grant the Cabinet authority to reclaim council-managed land for central government projects.
First Threshold Cleared: The petition crossed 800 signatures within two days, satisfying the initial benchmark set by parliamentary regulations.
Mandatory Referral: Crossing the 800-signature mark obligates the Speaker of Parliament to officially forward the petition to relevant government authorities for review.
Next Floor Debate Target: If the petition reaches 2,100 signatures, parliamentary rules require the People’s Majlis to schedule a formal debate on the house floor.
Reaching the first milestone, petition submitter Midhuam Saud expressed appreciation to supporters on social media, stating that signatories had fulfilled their civic duty to oppose the central takeover of local island jurisdictions. He criticized the proposed legislation as an attempt to reduce local councils to colonies of the central state, emphasizing that public opposition would be recorded in history.
The rapid signature drive follows recent parliamentary action where ruling party lawmakers fast-tracked the bill, accepting it for committee review after a brief 30-minute floor debate. Opposition members and civil society advocates continue to warn that passing the legislation will dismantle local governance across the Maldives.
