The lack of regulations is no bar to implement law, says President of Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) Mohamed Shahyb.

Shahyb’s statements came amid rising criticism of MBC over the fines imposed by the Commission on RaajjeTV.

Speaking in a program on state media on Monday night, Shahyb said that even without procedures and regulations, the law must be implemented. He had defended the Commission’s decision, adding that all decisions of the Commission were within the legal ambit.

Even though Shahyb said this, the authorities are mandated to draw up regulations on investigations run under cases filed to the Commission, as per clause five, chapter six of the Defamation Bill.

However, RaajjeTV was penalized three times over without drawing up the said regulations.

Shahyb further deflected the rumours of political influence, stating that he alone was not responsible for Commission decisions. As such, he said the decisions of the Commission were made on the vote of the Commission members.

Referring to the calls for his resignation, Shahyb said calls to resignation were common place and therefore nothing new.