The Auditor General's Office of Maldives clarified, in a statement to Sun media, the proposed new defamation would not hamper the freedom of media in any way. 

The bill would not be drafted in a way to facilitate the closure of media or impose fines on media outlets, said media director of the auditor general office, Hussain Hassan. “The government intends to keep defamation as a civil offence. It (the bill) will not impede press freedom,” he added.  

Previous anti-defamation law was regularly misused against the media outlets, in seeking compensations from them, during the tenure of former president Yameen. The law was subsequently scrapped by parliament following the presidential election.   

https://en.sun.mv/63291