The first item on today’s agenda is to set the working quorum and the voting quorum of the Committee. The Standing Order states that the working quorum of a committee shall not be lower than 1/3 of its members.

When the chair opened the floor for members, Central Fuvahmulah Constituency Member Ali Fazaad, proposed the working quorum of the Committee as 4 members and the voting quorum of the committee as 6 members; it was seconded by South Galolhu Constituency Member Meekail Ahmed Nasym.

Below are the voting details of the proposal.

Vote: Committee Working Quorum as 4 members and Committee Voting Quorum as 6 members.

Total number of members: 11

Number of members present: 9

Voted Yes: 8

Voted against: 0

Abstain: 0

Total voted: 8

Required to Pass: 5

Result: Passed

(Members voted in favour South Hulhumale’ Constituency Memeber Dr. Ahmed Shamheed, West Henveyru Constituency Member Ali Ibrahim, South Galolhu Constituency Member Meekail Ahmed Nasym, South Mahchangolhi Constituency Member Musthafa Hussain, Ihavandhoo Constituency Member Ahmed Naseer, Dhidhoo Constituency Member Abdul Latheef Mohamed, Dhaandhoo Constituency Member Mohamed Fazeel and Central Fuvahmulah Constituency Member Ali Fazaad.

Hence, the committee unanimously passed 4 members as the working quorum and 6 members as the voting quorum.

Secondly, the committee discussed the working quorum for the summoned meetings stipulated in section 163 of the standing order of 19^th Majlis.

Dhaandhoo Constituency Member Mohamed Fazeel proposed as 6 members as working quorum for the summoned meetings mentioned under article 163 of the standing order of 19^th Majlis; it was seconded by Ihavandhoo Constituency Member Ahmed Naseer.

Below are the voting details of the proposal.

Vote: Working quorum for the summoned meetings as 6 members.

Total number of members: 11

Number of members present: 9

Voted Yes: 8

Voted against: 0

Abstain: 0

Total voted: 8

Required to Pass: 5

Result: Passed

(Members voted in favour: South Hulhumale’ Constituency Memeber Dr. Ahmed Shamheed, West Henveyru Constituency Member Ali Ibrahim, South Galolhu Constituency Member Meekail Ahmed Nasym, South Mahchangolhi Constituency Member Musthafa Hussain, Ihavandhoo Constituency Member Ahmed Naseer, Dhidhoo Constituency Member Abdul Latheef Mohamed, Dhaandhoo Constituency Member Mohamed Fazeel and Central Fuvahmulah Constituency Member Ali Fazaad.

Hence, the members present in the meeting unanimously passed the working quorum for the summoned meetings as 6 members.

Thirdly, the committee worked on the administrative procedure for approving the cabinet members appointed by the president as stipulated in the article 129 (a) of the constitution and a procedure for other issues that does not fall under the article 151 of the Standing Order of 19th Majlis. Once the chair opened the floor for members, Central Fuvahmulah Constituency Member Ali Fazaad proposed to adopt the same policies used by the Government Oversight Committee of the 19^th Majlis, without any changes. West Henveyru Constituency Member Ali Ibrahim seconded the proposal.

Below are the voting details of the proposal.

Vote: Adopt the same policies used by the Government Oversight Committee of the 19^th Majlis, without any changes.

Total number of members: 11

Number of members present: 9

Voted Yes: 8

Voted against: 0

Abstain: 0

Total voted: 8

Required to Pass: 5

Result: Passed

(Members voted in favour: South Hulhumale’ Constituency Memeber Dr. Ahmed Shamheed, West Henveyru Constituency Member Ali Ibrahim, South Galolhu Constituency Member Meekail Ahmed Nasym, South Mahchangolhi Constituency Member Musthafa Hussain, Ihavandhoo Constituency Member Ahmed Naseer, Dhidhoo Constituency Member Abdul Latheef Mohamed, Dhaandhoo Constituency Member Mohamed Fazeel and Central Fuvahmulah Constituency Member Ali Fazaad

Hence, the members present in the meeting unanimously decided to adopt the same policies used by the Government Oversight Committee of the 19th Majlis, without any changes.

As the 5^th item on the agenda, the committee discussed preparing a work plan as stipulated in article 148 of the Standing Order of 19th Majlis. The Committee discussed the matter and decided that the committee secretariat will prepare and submit a work plan by 30^th June 2024.

The committee reviewed the issue on the approval of three cabinet ministers appointed by the President on Monday (29^th January 2024), as the last item on today’s agenda. Central Fuvahmulah Constituency Member Ali Fazaad proposed to approve the three names, as the requirements stated in article 130 of the constitution “qualification of Ministers” were fulfilled and none of the cabinet ministers has violated article 136 of the constitution. “Restrictions”

Article 136 states,

(a)    A member of the Cabinet shall not hold any other public office or office of profit, actively engage in a business or in the practice of any profession, or any other income generating employment, be employed by any person, buy or lease any property belonging to the State, or have a financial interest in any transaction between the State and another party.

(b)    A member of the Cabinet shall not use his position or any information entrusted to him by virtue of his office to improperly benefit himself or any other person.

This proposal was seconded by Dhidhoo Constituency Member Abdul Latheef Mohamed.

Below are the voting details of the proposal.

Vote: Approve the three cabinet members appointed by the president

Total number of members: 11

Number of members present: 9

Voted Yes: 7

Voted against: 1

Abstain: 0

Total voted: 8

Required to Pass: 5

Result: Passed

(Members voted in favour: South Hulhumale’ Constituency Memeber Dr. Ahmed Shamheed, West Henveyru Constituency Member Ali Ibrahim, South Mahchangolhi Constituency Member Musthafa Hussain, Ihavandhoo Constituency Member Ahmed Naseer, Dhidhoo Constituency Member Abdul Latheef Mohamed, Dhaandhoo Constituency Member Mohamed Fazeel and Central Fuvahmulah Constituency Member Ali Fazaad

(Members voted against: South Galolhu Constituency Member Meekail Ahmed Nasym

Hence, the majority of the members present in the Committee meeting voted in favor of approving the three members appointed to the cabinet.

The committee postponed the rest of the matter on the agenda to another meeting and ended today’s meeting.