MDP decides to stymie government through parliament

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has stated yesterday that the party will no longer cooperate with the government in the parliament. Speaking at the press conference held to announce the party’s parliamentary group’s decision the group said that for the past six months since the transfer of power the parliament had been left “paralysed”.

Deputy leader of the party’s parliamentary group and Thoddoo constituency MP Ali Waheed said that while the government and allies hold majority of seats in the parliament, for the past six months no productive work had been conducted in the parliament and that forming a committee in the parliament has also become a challenge.

“The parliament was at a standstill today (yesterday). The country has come to a grinding halt since February 7. From this point on we’re stepping back…we’re in protest at the parliament floor. We 29 members will have to be arrested to be taken out of the parliament,” he said.

He detailed that MDP reached the stance following the government’s decision to charge from the people after exhausting the state budget from unnecessary spending. He also said that if the Speaker of Parliament Abdull Shahid cannot solve problems marring the parliament he should step aside.

Leader of MDP’s parliamentary group and Hinnavaru constituency MP Ibrahim ‘Ibu’ Mohamed Solih said that the government has violated several rules and regulations and that MDP will not support to implement these violations.

He said that while the Finance Minister is violating the Finance Act the government has decided to charge the people for the “Aasandha” Health Insurance service and amend the Decentralisation Act to abolish all City Councils which were all started by the former government for the benefit of the people. Thus MDP will not support anything that might plunge the people into more difficulties.

“Though we don’t hold the majority in parliament there are things we can do. There are things we can do via the Government Accountability Committee, 241 Committee and National Security Committee. We will take action against what the government is planning to do,” he said.

He also noted that while the executive and legislature are to separate powers, the government and the Police are attempting to influence the authority of the parliament which includes arresting MPs in violation of parliament rules of procedure.

He revealed that the Finance Minister has sent a letter to the parliament’s Finance Committee requesting the inclusion of an extra MVR9 billion into the state budget while another MVR3 billion is to be spent on undefined expenses which makes the government’s claim of having no funds to continue the national health insurance service implausible.

“We don’t know what the government is spending on. As long as we are in the parliament they cannot spend on anything else before spending on Aasandha,” he said.

Dhihdhoo constituency MP Ahmed Sameer who also spoke at the press conference said that while the government cannot do anything for the people there is no need to increase the state budget.

“The former government started Aasandha because they could do it. We were doing it. If the preceding government that had come through a coup cannot do it then they shouldn’t betray the people,” Sameer said.
Tweet Bookmark Print Badge the Comments! Give badges to the best comments you see! You will get four badges a day 0 Comments To have full access to the interactive features available in Haveeru Online please register or sign in. or Post a Comment Loading comments... Please wait