Meekail questions whether Parliament should pursue salary increases while citizens queue for Panadol

MDP MP for South Galolhu, Meekail Ahmed Naseem, has questioned whether the state is prioritising increasing the salaries of cabinet ministers and the Speaker of Parliament while ordinary citizens are forced to queue at pharmacies for basic medicines such as Panadol.

Speaking during debate on a bill to repeal GST on services provided by foreign booking platforms, travel agents and tour operators from the first day of this month, Meekail said the country is in an economically fragile state. He questioned whether this was the moment to increase the salaries of ministers and the Speaker of Parliament.

“Honourable Speaker, go to Sosun Magu and see. There are queues at pharmacies in front of ADK. Not even a Panadol is available. Honourable Speaker, are we still trying to increase ministers’ salaries? Are you no longer provided with a car now? Are you not able to make do with the current salary, Honourable Speaker?” Meekail asked.

Meekail has criticised the Public Accounts Committee’s decision to increase the salaries of ministers and the Speaker of Parliament. Opposition MPs have urged the committee to reverse the decision, arguing that the proposed changes would increase ministers’ pay and allowances by MVR 40 million a year.

Meanwhile, an emergency motion was submitted on Monday. However, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla decided not to accept the motion and returned it.

The Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday approved increasing the Speaker’s salary to MVR 95,000, raising the car allowance of ministers, and increasing the salaries of island councils. According to the committee, the Speaker currently receives MVR 73,125, while the Deputy Speaker receives MVR 91,000 and MPs receive MVR 82,500.

The committee noted that the difference arises because the Speaker cannot attend committee meetings. Members receive allowances based on their percentage of committee participation, MVR 10,000 for 50-75 percent attendance and MVR 20,000 for more than 75 percent. Therefore, the committee proposed increasing the Speaker’s allowance by MVR 22,000, bringing his total salary to MVR 95,125.