Most MPs today opposed making any changes to their salary and allowances but supported capping the number of MPs to prevent increases in every new term.
During the early stages of a debate at today's sitting of the Parliament on a resolution proposed by Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau to seek the views of MPs on limiting the number of MPs, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP for Galolhu Uthuru Mohamed Ibrahim said that expenditure on the salary and benefits for MPs was high in the Maldives.
He cited statistics to back up the assertion.
"We spent MVR 448 million over five years on just the salary and insurance of 87 MPs during the 19th Majlis. In the 20th Majlis with 93 MPs, we are heading towards MVR 479 million. As a result, there has been an increase of MVR 30 million for our salaries in the 20th Majlis," MP Mohamed Ibrahim said.
After he spoke along those lines, the first to speak against reducing the salary and argue that the pay was not too high was Baarah MP Shujau, the sponsor of the resolution.
"[The salary of MPs being high] is something that's talked about a lot among the public as well. I believe that the salary received from this People's Majlis is low. Honourable Speaker, the salary that MPs of this honourable Majlis get is low," Shujau said.
After that, Maamigili MP Qasim Ibrahim also said that the salary was low.
Most MPs from the People's National Congress (PNC) who followed spoke against reducing the salary and allowances of MPs. One such MP was PNC MP for Kudahuvadhoo Hussain Hameed.
"Truly today MPs are like welfare portals. So I'm not talking at all about raising the salary for MPs," he said.
PNC MP for Kolamaafushi Ibrahim Didi said he did not believe that the salary of MPs was high as the expenditure on heads of institutions and companies was much higher.
"I don't see any of these people having to spend like MPs do. MPs have to [provide financial assistance] for many things for many citizens from their constituencies. Therefore, this talk about the MVR 42,000 salary that MPs get being too high is not something that I accept," he said.
There has always been among the public about high expenditure on MPs from the state but the reality was different, PNC MP for Vilimale' Mohamed Ismail said.
"No, it's not the case at all. There are those in various government institutions and companies who receive a much higher salary," he said.
However, he also supported capping the number of MPs.
