Attorney General Ahmed Usham has said that the amendments proposed by the government for the Media Regulation Bill are designed to protect both media freedom and the rights of the public.
He made the remarks in a social media post responding to concerns raised by a member of the public, who argued that research as well as stakeholder and expert input were essential before drafting a bill. The commenter also noted that the proposed legislation contained a number of ambiguous provisions.
In his response, Usham acknowledged shortcomings in the bill initially submitted to the Parliament. He stressed that this was the reason the government reviewed the draft and submitted amendments.
“I agree that there are issues in the Bill submitted to Majlis. It is for this reason that we reviewed the Bill and submitted important amendments,” his post read.
The Attorney General emphasised that stakeholder input and consultation are vital during the committee stage of parliamentary review. He added that the government’s amendments clarify vague terminology, including definitions related to electronic media.
“As with most bills, details will have to be refined and concerns will have to be addressed through constructive dialogue and input from stakeholders during committee stage. As for the definitions, we have submitted amendments to clarify vague terminology, including the definition of electronic media,” he wrote.
Usham said the government’s intention in introducing the amendments was to ensure that there is no unnecessary intrusion into media while ensuring the public is protected from harm and disinformation.
He further noted that he believes that the bill establishes broad and necessary principles to address pressing issues of accountability, misinformation, and the responsible handling of information in the media space. These challenges, he said, are real and cannot be ignored, adding that he believes having a legislative foundation is a starting point.