No Citizen Faces Hardship, Development Projects Ongoing, Says Majority Leader Falah

Ibrahim Falah, the People's Majlis member for Inguraidhoo constituency and Majority Leader, has said that no citizen is facing any hardship and that development projects are being carried out across the Maldives. Speaking during a debate on the government-proposed amendment to the law on taxing goods and services, Falah said no taxes have been increased under the administration of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. He added that instead, the government has paid over one billion dollars of debt owed by previous governments to foreign banks and financial institutions. Falah also said the country now enjoys political freedom, with no political figures imprisoned or subjected to harassment. He noted that politicians who had previously fled abroad have now returned and are freely carrying out political activities. “No citizen is deprived of anything. All our essential needs are met. Development projects are being carried out in the atolls of the Maldives. The country’s political figures have not been imprisoned or harassed,” Falah said. Responding to opposition criticism over salaries of the Speaker and ministers, Falah said the change to the Speaker’s salary was made to establish balance among the three powers of the state. He explained that previously the Speaker did not receive a committee allowance, leaving the Speaker’s salary lower than that of the Deputy Speaker, and that the correction was not targeted at any individual. Falah said ministers’ basic salaries were not increased. However, the previous allowance of MVR 7,000 for a car, driver and fuel was insufficient, so it was adjusted to MVR 17,000. He said this arrangement would apply to ministers of future governments as well. He also expressed concern over opposition criticism of positive changes to councillors’ salaries, stating that PNC members are not “robots” following a particular order and that members have the freedom to speak.