Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim, who also sits in the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, has called on the government to expedite cost cutting measures.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim, who also sits in the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, has called on the government to expedite cost cutting measures.
In yesterday's committee meeting, at which Minister of Finance Dr Mohamed Shafeeq was present, Nazim said that although a timeline has been formulated, actual dates of implementation remain unspecified.
"When it is like this, we are not getting the commitment that we want. What we want is for you to say [it will be done] by this specific day. If it just says its beginning from now [from July], it may just remain so and there is room to believe it may not be achieved," he said.
"We are then thinking that once again there will be delays and this will remain not done."
Nazim said that the 20th Parliament was elected by the people wanting major differences, and that the parliament must demonstrate this to the public. He called on the government to set deadlines and work in accordance with them.
"Other governments have also said the same things you are saying. However, none of it was done. What we are saying is, reform Aasandha as well. Give us a deadline. Give us a day of commencement," he said.
Minister Shafeeq responded by saying that many of the areas where reforms are to be brought involve not just the Finance Ministry, but other related institutions as well.
"We will work towards that [to set deadlines]. Even now we are working closely with other ministries," he said.
The government has said that efforts to decrease expenditure will be taken from July onwards. This includes reforming Aasandha and State Owned Enterprises, as well as setting targeted subsidies.
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