Faction war heats up; Yaugoob removed from parliament
Yaugoob could be heard shouting after he was named and when the chair gave Ilyas a second chance to speak.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
Dhaandhoo MP Yaugoob Abdulla, who supports the party's ruling faction, has been expelled from the parliament on Tuesday.
Speaker of parliament Mohamed Nasheed, who lost last month's MDP presidential primary, accepted the results of the primary but did not decide to support the party's presidential candidate in the election. There has been intense competition between the two factions within the party in the run-up to the elections, and recently, there often are war of words between members of both factions in parliament.
The members were debating a motion moved by Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla to bring it to the notice of the government, demanding that the state do what is mentioned in the Majlis proposals regarding the repayment of the state's debt. The debate on the resolution heated up and Yaugoob had to be named after Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb, who supported Nasheed, started shouting slogans in disgust when he criticised the government.
During the debate on the resolution, Ilyas expressed concern over the high debt against the state's revenue. When Ilyas questioned how he would oppose the administration of the state, Yaugoob is heard shouting in disgust. But since his mic wasnt on, it wasn't clear what he was saying.
"We have to do whatever it takes to address this issue. This will not be resolved by shouting against it. Honourable President, what happens as a result?," Ilyas said when members started shouting on the parliament floor.
Criticising the current government's fiscal policies, Ilyas said:
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In the name of running the state, the government has taken MVR 60 billion from various banks across the country; there is no money available in banks to give businessmen to grow their businesses as such money is being withdrawn.
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In 2021, the current government sold USD 200 million worth of Sukuk (Islamic bonds) at a high interest after MDP, which was in opposition at 7% interest, protested against former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's administration's decision to take USD 250 million in the name of 'Sunny Side Bond' at 7%.
"... The country's revenue swelled to USD 30 billion, with fitch ratings of everything, everything rating, moody's rating. Global credit ratings are declining in the international market. When that credit rating drops, there will be no one to lend to the country. The loan will come at a high interest rate and then we are forced to take it at a higher interest rate," Ilyas said.
Ilyas also criticised the statements made by pro-government MPs in Parliament when the GST and TGST hike bill was being worked out from this year. He said the tax hike would "grow at MVR 2 out of MVR 100". Even if the members say so, it is the common man who knows the prices of commodities.
At the time, Yaugoob was trying to disrupt Ilyas's narrative. That's why Ilyas got upset and pointed to Yaugoob and hit back at him.
"When we travelled to different parts of the country in the last presidential primary, we knew how much the pockets of our people weighed. They know how much the price of milk has gone up. In Yaugoob’s constituency, Dhandhoo people are worried," Ilyas said, pointing his finger at Yaugoob and raising his voice.
With that, Yaugoob started shouting more loudly and responding to Ilyas. Due to the lack of the discipline in the meeting, the chair twice announced Yaugoob's name and paused for him to lower his voice. The conversation didn't move forward as Yaugoob was shouting even when Ilyas was given a chance to speak. Therefore, the chair named Yaugoob and asked him to leave the floor.
Yaugoob could still be heard shouting when the chair gave Ilyas a second chance to speak. He was accompanied by Thinadhoo North MP Abdulla Muguni, who was shouting slogans as well. Yaugoob left the floor after being repeatedly asked by the chair to leave.
