Sun Poll Finds 53.5% of Maldivians View MPs' Constituency Spending as Bribery

A poll conducted by Sun Online has found that a majority of the public views Members of Parliament spending their salaries on the specific needs of constituents as bribery aimed at securing votes. The poll was held amid heated debate over the People's Majlis Finance Committee's approval to increase the salaries of MPs and some senior state positions. According to the results, 53.5 percent of respondents said MPs spending money from their salaries on citizens is a direct act of bribery. The results indicate opposition to spending on individuals instead of improving general services, with only 2.6 percent saying members' salaries must be increased for such purposes. Only 3.3 percent viewed the spending as a service provided to citizens. The debate intensified over a chart showing that the salary received by members is seven times higher than the average income, linked to statements by Ahmed Azan Marzook, Member of Parliament for Hithadhoo Central Constituency. Defending members' salaries, Azan said that in a country with a small population, members are required to make large expenditures such as sponsoring local-level activities and specific needs of citizens from their own pockets. He also noted that it is difficult to say "no" when citizens ask for financial assistance. Responding to Azan's comments, former Vice President Dr. Ahmed Ali Sawad said a member's salary is not something to be distributed to citizens in their constituency, but rather the remuneration for the member's work. Distributing remaining funds from the salary among constituency residents is a bribe given to secure votes, he said, adding that the aid citizens need should be provided by the state through laws and regulations. Sawad also emphasised that citizens should approach members only to fulfil their constitutional responsibilities. According to the poll results and public opinions expressed on social media, citizens prefer establishing reformative laws that will improve living standards and strengthen services at the national level, rather than maintaining a culture of giving small financial aids to individuals to appease them. The results also clearly show that increasing members' salaries further is not accepted by citizens during these difficult economic times.