The People's Majlis has today approved a bill to stop giving an allowance to former Presidents to run their office and to provide a monthly financial allowance to former Vice Presidents.

The bill was proposed by Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid with a monthly allowance of MVR 25,000 for former Vice Presidents. But the committee increased the amount to MVR 30,000.

It states that the allowance will be paid to those who have completed a five-year term. Faisal Naseem is the only former Vice President who has completed the five-year term.

The bill also requires former Vice Presidents to be provided with free medical treatment in the Maldives and abroad.

With the approval of the bill, the state will stop covering the expenses to run the office of former Presidents. They currently get MVR 175,000 each month to run their offices.

Currently, MVR 50,000 per month is given to former Presidents as a financial allowance. The state must also provide security to them and their spouses.

If the former President has served two or more terms, he will receive an allowance of MVR 75,000 per month. Only former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has served two terms.

The bill includes cancelling security to former Presidents who live abroad and abolishing financial allowance if the former President holds another public office.