MPs reverse decision to limit VIP service to immediate family

The decision to provide services from the VIP lounge of Velana International Airport (VIA) to all those who accompany Members of Parliament (MP), including family members and others, was revoked on Wednesday evening.

Previously, a MP, his or her spouse, children and parents could use the airport's VIP lounge. Under this long-standing rule, the airport will bill the parliament for the VIP lounge service.

The General Committee of the 19th Parliament passed a resolution to provide VIP services to everyone travelling with MPs. However, the decision was not implemented due to the situation in the country at the time and the matter was parked in the committee.

Feydhoo South MP Ibrahim Didi presented the proposal at the seventh meeting of the general committee held on wednesday to approve the policy as approved by the previous parliament. The motion was passed by a majority of the committee members.

This drew a lot of public criticism of the MPs. Some people commented sarcastically on social media that the country's financial situation has deteriorated to the point where they are asking the people to go back to simpler lifestyles and eat ‘fish broth with rice’ while the parliament members’ cost cutting measures are quite evident.

Amid criticism over the decision, the committee held another meeting on Wednesday evening to cancel their earlier decision.

The Committee Chairman, Hulhudhoo Constituency MP Mohammed Shahid, said the Speaker of the Parliament, Abdul Raheem Abdullah, has requested the committee to further review the rules passed at the seventh meeting of the General Committee.

In the opportunity opened for members to consider the matter and decide again, Feydhoo South MP Ibrahim Didi moved:

The motion was supported by MP Ahmed Riyaz. The motion was passed by a majority of the committee members.

Therefore, the decision taken earlier on Wednesday and the decision taken by the last parliament at the 16th meeting of the General Committee in 2023 will be cancelled. MPs will continue to follow the rules that have been in place since 2020, the committee chair said.

There have been complaints that MPs are spending a lot of money at the VIP lounge at the VIA.

In late 2021, it was discovered that the state had spent USD 327,650 (MVR 5.05 million) on VIP lounge expenses between 2012 and 2017. In 2017 alone, a record amount was spent on members' friends and family at the lounge.

The General Committee decided in September 2021 to change the rule and allow MPS, their families as well as two other persons to receive VIP lounge services at the expense of the parliament. Even then the decision was met with criticism and public dissatisfaction and was put up for review.