President Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday said that no one has the freedom to “say or write whatever they wish,” as Parliament considers a bill that would expand government control over the media.

Speaking at this year’s National Day ceremony on Utheemu Island, Haa Alifu Atoll, Muizzu emphasised the importance of respecting honour and dignity in speech and writing, warning against defamatory remarks.

“We have no right to violate the dignity, reputation or honour of others. We do not have the freedom to speak whatever comes to mind, nor to write with a pen whatever comes to mind,” Muizzu said.

He added that today’s society often disregards the rights of others, noting: “You’re fine when you progress. You’re fine when you achieve what you want. You don’t care about whatever happens to others. That’s not Maldivian national unity.” The president also stressed that protecting Maldivian identity and passing on Islamic customs to the next generation is a responsibility for every citizen.

Muizzu’s remarks come as lawmakers debate the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, which would replace the Maldives Media Council and Maldives Broadcasting Commission with a new regulatory body. Under the proposed law, the president would appoint the chair of the commission and three of its seven members. The new regulator would have powers to suspend registrations, revoke licences through the courts, and impose fines of up to MVR 100,000 ($6,500).

The bill has drawn strong criticism from journalists, opposition politicians, and international organisations. The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and the Maldives Media Council (MMC) have all condemned it, warning it would place the media under direct government control and “set back the hard-earned freedom of the press for many years.”

Opposition leader and Maldivian Democratic Party Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail criticised Muizzu’s National Day remarks and the proposed bill, vowing that any law restricting press freedom would be repealed under a future MDP government.

The bill, submitted by government-aligned MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru, follows a similar bill that was withdrawn last year after public backlash.