People's National Congress (PNC) Parliamentary Group (PG) Leader Ibrahim Falah has expressed his discontent regarding the summoning of Cabinet Ministers to Parliament just to clarify inconsequential facts.
People's National Congress (PNC) Parliamentary Group (PG) Leader Ibrahim Falah has expressed his discontent regarding the summoning of Cabinet Ministers to Parliament just to clarify inconsequential facts.
In parliament today, Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir of opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) questioned the Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu about football grounds in four islands of Baa Atoll.
Seeking an opportunity to speak between questions from members, Falah said that he had questions regarding this practice of summoning Ministers just to ask questions about simple matters. He raised questions on why Ministers were not questioned about more important matters that need to be brought to the public's attention.
"Why are you summoning [ministers] to ask them about small, bankrupt projects that have been discontinued?" he queried.
Saying this, Falah asserted that he wants to advise MPs of MDP on questioning Ministers.
He also questioned the Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla on why such a practice was being allowed.
He asked the parliament to consider whether it is the best option to summon Ministers if they fail to answer a question submitted by MPs within three days, adding that this be reviewed when revising Parliament regulations.
This issue of summoning Ministers to question them about water and sewerage systems, harbours, and such projects in various islands arose even during the previous 19th People's Majlis. At the time, some MPs expressed concerns that this practice resulted in wasting the time of Ministers.
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