Mr. Hussain Fahmy, Managing Director of State Electric Company (STELCO) hails government for taking the initiative to propose a law to Parliament banning floor crossings.

Statement expressed in his X post as follows:

I extend my gratitude to the government for taking the initiative to propose a law to Parliament banning floor crossings. This is a commendable step toward strengthening our democracy and further enhancing the current Anti-Defection Act to ensure greater accountability and transparency. I urge all parliamentarians to prioritize and pass this legislation swiftly, drawing lessons from established practices in developed nations like the UK and the USA.

Banning floor crossing in the Maldives Parliament has the potential to be a transformative reform, fostering a corruption-free democracy, enhancing political stability, and reinforcing the independence of the judiciary. Floor crossing, where elected representatives switch party allegiances during their term, undermines public trust, disrupts governance, and often facilitates unethical practices.

This proposed law directly addresses these challenges by deterring opportunistic party switching, which frequently prioritizes personal or partisan interests over the public good. By promoting transparency and accountability in the legislative process, this law would help create a more stable political environment, ensuring that representatives remain committed to their mandate and to the people they serve. Moreover, this reform would significantly contribute to judicial independence.

A transparent and ethical legislative process minimizes undue political influence, enabling the judiciary to uphold the rule of law and protect fundamental rights. Similar anti-defection laws in other countries have proven effective in advancing democratic accountability and stability. This is a historic opportunity for the Maldives to strengthen its democratic framework and safeguard the integrity of its political institutions. Let us seize this moment to ensure a brighter, more accountable future for our nation.