Loans and Guarantees approved after several members were asked to leave the hall

The Treasury Committee’s report on the government’s loans and guarantees included in the budget for next year, which requires endorsement by the Majlis, was voted for and approved by the Majlis yesterday, after several members were called by name and asked to leave the chamber.

No member of opposition PPM was present at the chamber when the voting took place. The report was approved by the voting of MDP, DRP and some individual members present at the meeting. Forty members were present at the meeting at the time, out of which 38 members voted for the approval of the report.

President of the Majlis Abdulla Shahid continued the meeting after requesting several members whom he identified by name to leave the hall, while members of opposition party PPM repeatedly said that the meeting can only continue after 2.30 pm by proposing a time extension. They also said that as the time to end the meeting had elapsed, it would no longer be possible to extend the time. However, several members were asked to leave the chambers and the meeting continued after 16.00 hrs.

Voting for the Treasury Committee’s report was first proposed at 14:04 hrs. Due to some opposition members protesting against this, eight members were called by name and the meeting was briefly interrupted. It started again at 16.00 hrs.

Members of PPM said that the voting for the report was proposed by the President of the Majlis in a manner which conflicts with the Law.

Before and after the voting was proposed, they repeatedly said that members should be given the chance to revise every case after it is looked into by the Committees. They also said that they wish to propose revisions to this report, and that voting cannot be conducted without allowing this.

President of the Majlis Abdulla Shahid said that the necessary procedures of the Majlis are being followed, as they always has been. However South Galolhu MP Ahmed Mahloof said that the rules are clearly indicated, and that the opportunity should be given to propose revisions to this report. He also said that the fact that a mistake was made in the past does not mean that things should continue in that manner.

Regarding Shahid’s statement that it was decided to do this in order to follow what was done in the past, Hanimaadhoo MP Mohamed Mujuthaaz said that the President of the Majlis has admitted to having subjected Majlis members to do things against the law for the past two years. He also requested that this be corrected in accordance with the law.

“As the President has admitted to making us do things against the law for the past two years, we request that this be corrected according to section 84 of the Law,” Mujuthaaz said.

Shahid, in response to this, said that he had not made any member do anything against the law. He also said that the members act in ways that are agreed upon by the Majlis.

“No member has been made to do anything against the law. It won’t happen in the future either. Things are done with the agreement and participation of the Majlis members,” Shahid said.

The members who were asked to leave the chambers today were, South Galolhu MP Ahmed Mahloof, Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed, Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem, Gemanafushi MP Ilham Ahmed, Vaikaradhoo MP Ali Aarif, Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Vilimaafannu MP Ahmed Nihaan Hussein and Isdhoo MP Ahmed Rasheed.

As the members were not given the chance to revise reports in similar cases in the past, President of the Majlis Abdulla Shahid stated in a document published by the Majlis today that he believes that the matter had been ruled correctly.

The report by the Treasury Committee says that details of the loans are to be submitted to the Treasury Committee later.