Nasheed's indirect warning to 'sell-out' pro-government MPs

Speaker Mohamed Nasheed on Tuesday issued an indirect warning to lawmakers, accusing the government of interfering with them.

Nasheed made this remark while debating the report submitted by the parliament's regulations committee to ratify the 'Hulhumale Planning and Construction Regulations'.

The housing ministry has refused to gazette a regulation drafted by parliament that allows construction of 10 storeys on all land allotted to the public to live in Hulhumale. Nasheed also urged the lawmakers to take action against minister Mohamed Aslam.

He said it was a violation of the law to not comply with parliament's directive to follow a particular procedure, which he also said was a "difficult issue" for him.

During the debate on the report, Afeef also expressed displeasure over the government's indifference to parliament's directives. Afeef said the ministers did not respect what was passed by the parliament and the directives issued forth because the parliament was also allowing them to do so. He alleged that such incidents were taking place because MPs were also following such ministers.

"The minister doesn't have to worry about it in any way; no matter what the minister does, he knows these MPs here will stand behind the minister. This is the real truth and we have to take responsibility for it in this parliament," Afeef said.

He said the issue of ministers not following parliamentary directives can be resolved by taking action against those who interfere, without any discrimination.

"We should first take our responsibility to address these issues. The action we have to take against those who repeat such things is not to look at a particular person, not look at a particular face, not look at a shoulder, we will not be reformed unless we do what we have to do," the MP said.

At the end of Afeef's speech, Nasheed said he could look into which lawmakers had interests in various government contracts. He also said that the influence of these MPs can also determine how many people are in government jobs, and indirectly warned the "influential" MPs.

"Honourable MP, I can look at how many of the honourable members of parliament have their interests in different types of government contracts and those who have been given jobs," he said.

He said some MPs "sell" the glory and honour of the parliament for a "small amount of money", which is a loss to the people and the country as a whole.