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Faris speaks at the presidential speech programme of Atoll Times' sister Dhauru. Dhauru Photo/Hussain Sunain

Faris releases manifesto with promise to cut GST to 3%

The manifesto includes proposals for a long-term national development plan, with educational and reform changes.

14 August 2023

Faris Maumoon, independent presidential candidate, released his manifesto on Sunday, promising to reduce the general Goods and Services Tax (GST) to 3% and reform the self-determination of MPs’ salaries.

The manifesto was launched at a rally in Sultan Park on Sunday by Faris and his running mate Dr Abdul Sattar Yusuf.

The manifesto includes proposals for a long-term national development plan, educational and social reforms, and modern changes to strengthen the economy and increase productivity.

The government had in January increased the general GST from 6% to 8%, and Tourism-GST (T-GST) from 12% to 16%. 

Maintaining the noble principles of Islam:

  • Empowering the Fatwa council

  • Closing down and regulating immoral establishments in the name of spas

  • Blocking pornographic websites

Good governance in accordance with international norms:

  • Appointing professional, competent persons

  • Governing with the participation of all, through a two-sided approach

  • Formulating and implementing tailor-made policies

  • Reducing wasteful spending

  • Formulating and making public the rules for providing assistance under Aasandha and NSPA

Economic revolution brought about by reforms:

  • Formulating a long-term national development plan and ensuring that the government's manifesto, policies, and development projects are in line with the goals of the national development plan, and putting it up for a public referendum

Digital economy:

  • Establishing a special license for digital banking and digital wallets through the MMA

  • Making Maldives a digital financial hub

  • Opening up digital asset exchanges in the economy

  • Creating a digital creative industry

Address general living expenses:

  • Making water, electricity, and staple foods more affordable

  • Identifying the need for housing and increasing the amount of affordable housing to maintain prices

Increase and strengthen productivity:

  • Creating a start-up Maldives brand

  • Creating and expanding Dhivehi brands

  • Introducing and continuing modern businesses

Reform and bring back offenders:

  • Building halfway houses to help people recover from drug rehab, mental health care, and prison sentences back into the community

  • Construction of special rehabilitation centres for women

Make prison a last resort:

  • Strengthening non-custodial measures such as community service and mandatory rehabilitation programs

Discrimination of resorts and guesthouses as a separate category:

  • Reducing taxes on guesthouses

Simplifying the amount of taxes levied on the general public:

  • Reviewing the tax system and reducing GST to 3%

  • Deducting duty on imported goods

Expansion of direct revenue for the island councils:

  • Bringing utility companies under the control of the island council

Reforming the education system:

  • Further efforts to improve the discipline and behavior of children in schools

  • Working to make schools independent and self-governing

  • Introduction of a virtual national library for all students

  • Reviewing and modernizing the national curriculum

  • Providing mental health treatment services to students

  • Creating classes for children with special learning needs who are not able to be mainstreamed

  • Educating students through schools about the dangers of drug use

Parliamentary reform:

  • If a member of parliament does not perform at the level required by the people, a no-confidence vote should be taken against him and he can be removed from office

  • Amending the constitution so that the salaries of MPs are not determined by MPs

  • Introducing a quota to increase the proportion of women in parliament

  • Introducing a quota to facilitate the voice of people with disabilities

  • Reviewing the requirements of members and raising the educational level

  • Reducing the number of members of Parliament to a level appropriate to the population of Maldives

Resolving congestion in Male:

  • Making the streets a safe place

  • Vehicles registered in the Male area should be environmentally friendly

  • If more than one vehicle is registered in one name, increase the annual fee

  • Increase in import duty on used vehicles registered in the city area

  • Developing and implementing a long-term plan to reduce the number of vehicles used in the Male area

Class equality:

  • Establishing and implementing a gender mainstream policy for women

  • Developing and implementing a master plan to provide closer services for gender-based violence

  • Establishing a strong environment for women working in the informal sector

  • Identifying and implementing methods and techniques to enable the political future of women

  • Introduction of 'Temporary Special Measures' as part of new implementation measures and formulation and implementation of necessary plans; under it, quotas for political positions, legislation, and the judiciary

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