MPs to receive over MVR12,000 after they leave their posts

It has been decided in the Bill on Privileges of Members of Parliament (MPs) which was passed yesterday, that MPs will receive over MVR12,000 monthly as ‘service privileges’ after they serve one parliamentary term.

Article 8 of the Privileges Bill,which relates to service privileges, states that an MP will receive 30 percent of his salary if he serves one parliamentary term. If an MP leaves his post or is not elected after one term, he will received 30 percent of his salary of MVR42,500 which is MVR12,750 monthly.

The article also states that an MP who serves two terms will receive 45 percent of his salary, which is MVR19,125 monthly.

An MP will only be eligible for service privileges if he is over 55 years of age and no longer holds a state post. The government does not have to provide pension to a person who receives MP service privileges. All MPs should also be provided official passports.

The bill, which received equal votes in favour and against by MPs present at yesterday’s sitting, was passed by a vote in favour by the Speaker. The bill states that a person who serves one term as Speaker of Parliament will receive 30 percent of his basic salary of MVR53,000 which is MVR15,900.

The Speaker should also be provided a diplomatic passport, and be given security and protection by state security forces for five years after he serves as the Speaker of Parliament.

A person who serves one term as Deputy Speaker of Parliament will receive 30 percent of his basic salary of MVR51,000 which is MVR15,300. He should also be given an official passport.

The amendment to the bill to deduct MPs’ salaries for the days they are absent from work without a valid reason was rejected by the parliament.

The amendment proposed to article 7 of the bill by Kudahuvadhoo MP Ahmed Amir states that it should be possible to deduct the salaries and privileges of MPs determined under article 102 of the constitution based on a policy established by the General Purpose Committee by taking into account MPs’ productivity and the days they are absent from work without valid reasons. This amendment was supported by Galolhu-south MP Ahmed Mahloof.

Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Shahid said that because the amendment relates to MPs’ salaries and privileges, as per the constitution, votes in favour by two-thirds of the parliament would be necessary to pass this amendment. Two-thirds of the parliament, which is made up of 77 MPs, is 52.

Out of the 63 MPs who participated in the voting , 44 voted in favour of the amendment, ten voted against, and nine abstained from voting.

However, there were 70 MPs present when voting was conducted for this amendment. As some MPs had not registered themselves in the voting system, the system did not show that they had participated in the voting.