Ministers don't party for weekends, MP Falaah says
He criticised the opposition for submitting motions that, according to him, do not contribute to parliamentary work.
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R. Inguraidhoo MP and Parliamentary Group Leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Ibrahim Falaah, has defended the work of government ministers, stating that they are engaged in official duties and not involved in social gatherings during weekends.
Speaking during a debate on a motion submitted by Meekail Naseem, Member of Parliament for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Falaah said on Tuesday that the current ministers differ in conduct from those in the previous administration.
Falaah claimed that the 20th Parliament has been more active than the 19th Parliament. He criticised the opposition for submitting motions that, according to him, do not contribute to parliamentary work.
Addressing opposition concerns over delays in summoning ministers for questioning, Falaah said ministers are focused on economic recovery efforts and international engagements. He added that the ministers' responsibilities include travel to stabilise the economy.
“The ministers of this government are working. They dedicate time and effort. They travel abroad in efforts to restore an economy in crisis,” he said.
Referring to MDP-era practices, Falaah claimed: “These are not ministers who spend Thursday nights at dinners and parties.”
The opposition has argued that ministers are taking more than the stipulated 14 days to respond to questions submitted in parliament. Falaah responded that ministers may have valid reasons, such as illness or overseas duties, for their delayed appearances.
“There is nothing in the Constitution or the Parliamentary Rules that obligates a minister to appear exactly on the 14th day. If a minister is unable to appear due to illness or travel, that must be considered,” he said.
He added that the Parliamentary Secretariat coordinates ministerial appearances in agreement with the members raising the questions.
Falaah further commented on ethics in parliamentary debate, stating that he is prepared to educate MDP members on proper conduct.
He reiterated his position that ministers are not engaged in leisure activities, making this statement before the recent incident involving Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed, who fell from a house in Malé on 18 April. That incident was linked to a gathering at a residence in the Maandhooge Dhekunuge, owned by Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen. Police have not yet obtained CCTV footage from the property in question.
