Yameen says he has not taken allowance for office, medicals
The government on Thursday submitted a bill to parliament seeking to remove the MVR 175,000 office allowance.
Top Stories
Former President Abdulla Yameen on Thursday said he would not be affected by the proposed reduction of state allowances for former presidents, stating that he has not taken the allowances allocated for office operations or medical expenses.
Under the current Protection and Benefits of Former Presidents Act, a former president who has served one full term is entitled to MVR 275,000 per month, comprising:
-
Financial allowance: MVR 50,000
-
Accommodation expenses: MVR 50,000
-
Office running expenses: MVR 175,000
The government on Thursday submitted a bill to parliament seeking to remove the MVR 175,000 office allowance. The bill proposes that former vice presidents who have completed a five-year term receive a monthly allowance of MVR 25,000.
The bill was submitted by PNC Parliamentary Group Leader and Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falaah. He also led the debate on the proposed changes.
Yameen said discussions surrounding the amendment would “take off the shirts of the same people”, noting that he had not used state funds for office operations since leaving office.
"It has been seven years since I stepped down as president. No funds have been taken from the government budget to run an office during these seven years. There are medical allowances for former presidents, but I have not used them,” he said.
He added that although the law provides allowances for former presidents, not all choose to receive them.
“Of course I will not take this allowance,” he said.
Yameen told PNC MPs that any move to amend the law would not harm him but would affect President Mohamed Muizzu in the future.
"Even if everything is cut off, I will not be harmed. If anyone is harmed, it will be when the president leaves office. The harm will fall on him, not on me,” he said.
During Thursday’s debate, Falaah accused some former presidents of constructing large houses using funds from the state budget.
He said that if a former president carries out political work from home, any office-related activities in that residence could be considered as supported by the state, even if the allowance is not taken. Falaah did not name any individual but stated that there were five former presidents in the Maldives.
Yameen and former President Mohamed Waheed built residences after their presidencies. Former Presidents Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Mohamed Nasheed and Ibrahim Mohamed Solih did not construct such properties.
