Constitutional amendment seeks annual asset filing
The proposed amendment would make it mandatory for ministers to disclose assets and business interests held at the time of appointment.
Top Stories
A bill has been submitted to amend the Constitution to require ministers to submit their financial statements to Parliament and the Auditor General once a year.
The bill was introduced by MDP MP Mohamed Ibrahim.
According to the proposal, Article 138 of the Constitution currently requires Cabinet members to disclose their financial statements, but it does not specify a date for submission.
The proposed amendment would make it mandatory for ministers to disclose assets and business interests held at the time of appointment. It also introduces a timeline for submission.
Under the proposed amendment, financial statements must cover the period from the date of appointment to one year after, and must be submitted within 90 days of completing that year. These statements must be verified by an auditor licensed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Maldives.
If a minister fails to submit the financial statement within the given period, a daily amount would be deducted from their salary until submission.
Additionally, ministers would be required to submit a statement of assets and liabilities in their names to Parliament and the Audit Office within 30 days of appointment.
The amendment seeks to incorporate these provisions into the Constitution.
