Wednesday, May 27, 2009

As the new Majlis is sworn in


Much has been made out of the fact that when the newly elected People's Majlis is sworn in tomorrow it will be the first Majlis in 75 years to include only elected members. This however is only academic. Once members used to enter the Majlis at the pleasure of the King, later at the pleasure of the President and now at the pleasure of the party bosses. However there is one significant difference: a powerful opposition.

Looking superficially, one might believe that the opposition PA-DRP Alliance would win the elections for Speaker and Deputy Speaker. But they are quite likely to be surprised. In a secret ballot there could be floor crossings, which is likely to affect DRP more because its members are less bound by ideology compared to MDP.

Once the teething problems are over, the Majlis has a full legislative agenda. Urgent matters before it include:

  1. Penal Code;
  2. Criminal Procedures Bill;
  3. Prisons and Parole Bill;
  4. Drug Law;
  5. Decentralized Administration Bill;

8 comments:

Alif Laam Gaaf said...

Yes Indeed, there are very important and urgent matter for the new majlis. But the question is how far will things go. Last Majlis, we saw members on the table, tongue twists made "memberun to membalhun", middle fingures at the media cameras and so on.
I honestly am afraid if the Star World will stop their famous wrestling shows and end up showing our majlis sittings.

Anonymous said...

Dr Waheed seem to be so biased and indirectly try to malign the DRP at available opportunity.
If you think that the MDP has any ideologies worth mentioning then think twice.
Looking at the treack records of some of the MDP members they too are not immune from being a part of horse trading.
However the argument can go both ways depending on how you look at it.
The final result will be there for all to see by tommorow afternoon and then public will get an idea of how things will go on for the next five years.

http://abebedorespgondufo.blogs.sapo.pt/ said...

Good blog.
Portugal

Anonymous said...

Well now it appears that you are surprised now.As you expected there were no floor crossings and DRP candidate won the seat as the President of the new majlis.Now from your writings it appears that you are getting into the same seat as the " We will get 50 seats" people.Not what we expected from an educated person like you but then certain political beliefs or hatred can blind a person with otherwise normal vision

Anonymous said...

See Dr Waheed , you will be the surprised one.All your estimates this time can be considered as malicious gossip only.Nazim too got elected as the deputy speaker.

Alif Laam Gaaf said...

I was not surprised Mr Waheed. Believe in the reality is just the best we could do.

Anonymous said...

Dr Waheed I believe that you are priviledge( or a shame as everyone may not agree) to the inner workings and the shady and ambitious deals of President Nasheed.Perhaps that may be the reason why you wanted to satisfy your self on what appears superficially blah blah....... and like most of the other noisy uneducated crowd that we see as a hall mark and back bone of the yellow brigade , you too are carried away and makes a lot of immature , partial and at times hilariously ridiculous and outrageous comments.Why dont you try to improve and try some impartial reporting not favouring anyone but with factual details with reasonable and solid evidence to back your arguments or else you are destined to remain what you are.A not so important mediocre blogger who dont mostly know what he is talking about.Surely you dont want this as a permanent label.Do you?

Anonymous said...

To the anonymous at 12.46pm.
Yes sir the MDP has ideologies worth mentioning.Let me mention some of them.
* Replace some of the really capable administrators in the government and give those jobs to people who are uneducated but good as activists.
* Spread enough propaganda so that all educated people like engineers , teachers etc etc get a backseat in society and have no back bone to stand up for the crude and irresponsible policies of the government.
* Shout, scream , hurl obscenities and forcefully get what you want.
* Give enough promises to the public and take them to the stars and at the end of five years tell them that we are just finalizing the frameworks and things will really come in the next five years.
* The more outrageous the promises the better
* Keep the Mullahs at bay by offering them some lucrative jobs so that they keep thier mouths shut and will issue Friday sermons in your favour.
* Sack and kick out anyone not willing to lick your boots and this includes military officers etec etc...
* Establish some deadly commissions and bring out a few controversial reports periodically so that the hard core blood hounds can at least get some satisfaction and do not come after my blood.
* Do all what we can to sell all the troublesome and difficult state enterprises like the airport., hospital etc,,, so that less problem in our hands and some commission that can be saved for a rainy day.
* Take the innocent islanders on more phony rides and promise them the sky .At least they will have some thing to dream about.
* It is not necessary to have people of their chosen profession to run responsible positions in important ministries.For instance a failed physiotherapist can very well bring the country out of the economic recession and you can be a dentist and still learn the nitty gritties of Oivaali Kandhufathi if thats what is required.
* As President you dont always have to wear both the boots and it is alright to smoke in the Presidents office.
* You meet more people on the way to Friday prayers if you decide to walk from Mulee age on foot.Sweating is just a minor discomfort anyway.
* Use threatening words when you address the public.Make sure that they understand who the commander of armed forces is.Other wise they may think that you cannot arrest them.
* Keep as many relatives in government positions as possible.After all, all those talk of the nepotism of the previous government was just an election gimmick and people may just forget it.
* Dont arrest proclaimed offenders, street thugs, drug mafia dons etc,, but talk as if you are going to do it anyday.Keep the people in suspense.In any case no fum if there is less crime.Sensational crime reports can divert attention of the public from really pressing issues like the economy , living standards etc etc..
* Bring as many cosmetic changes as possible so that people will think that some thing is done.This includes painting some selected government buildings in yellow colour.
May be there will be more in time to come.So how can we ever say that MDP doesnot have any ideologies.