PNC hard to stomach: MP calls ruling party MPs 'robots and rented members' in Majlis debate

In a heated session of the People's Majlis on Monday, MP Meeakil Ahmed Naseem launched a scathing attack on the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) and its parliamentary majority, describing the 20th Parliament as a 'desk of the President's Office' and its government members as 'robots' and 'rented members'. Speaking during a debate on a public petition demanding the removal of MPs' costly health insurance and special benefits, Naseem said the public is unhappy because parliament is not performing. He accused the government of using its supermajority to change parliamentary rules and silence minority voices, stating, 'The constitution is not PNC's internal rulebook, and the People's Majlis is not a PNC senate or a house meeting.' The presiding officer and several PNC members attempted to stop Naseem's speech, arguing the language was beyond parliamentary limits. Naseem countered that expressing opinions on members' conduct is a legitimate right. Other MPs, including Maaroof Zakhir and Ahmed Shamheed, echoed concerns that public frustration stems from stark disparities between MPs' generous benefits and the average Maldivian's salary of MVR 9,000. Shamheed noted that nurses and teachers do not receive the same benefits as MPs. The debate highlighted growing public discontent over what many see as an unaccountable parliament serving executive interests rather than the people.