Parliament accepted the motion regarding unpaid dues to other companies and outstanding debt by state utility company FENAKA on Wednesday, and dismissed the motion calling to investigate state influence on elections.
People’s National Congress (PNC) member and MP for Maduvvari constituency Adam Shareef submitted a motion to the parliament calling for speedy payments by FENAKA to smaller companies it owes money to, as well as calling for a management audit and a financial audit to be conducted, in addition to draw up a payment plan. In the ensuing debate regarding the motion, the opposition members heavily criticised the government and the company.
Last month, contractors have stated that unpaid dues by FENAKA amount to over MVR 300 million. Some legislators said that the unpaid debt had led to several companies going bankrupt.
The parliamentarians further added that Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) was currently investigating internal corruption within the company amounting to millions as well.
In response, government parliamentarians had strongly defended FENAKA. They said the company had failed to make payments because they had failed to receive funds owed to them. Alleging that corruption can be carried out even within the company only with the involvement of suppliers, the members demanded a probe be conducted into the suppliers as well.
Although Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) lawmakers spoke out against the resolution, it was accepted by the parliament today with the unanimous votes of 53 lawmakers who participated in the vote, including MDP MPs as well. After accepting the resolution, the Chair referred it to the State Owned Enterprises Committee of the House for review.
Even though the issue of FENAKA was accepted, the opposition's resolution alleging undue interference by the government in the elections was rejected today after it did not get the support of the ruling party.
While debating the motion proposed by Maafanu North MP Imthiyaz Fahumy calling to halt the influence of government on election, a number of parliamentarians accused the current administration of misusing state resources for the presidential election held in September.
The members had accused that the state had announced projects that were not included in the state budget, in addition to providing jobs within state companies, in the months that led to the election.
In response, the government members questioned what is the standard by which a government can be considered as exerting undue influence on an election.
The MPs also sought to know whether the hike in salaries of government employees, construction of sewerage and draining systems and free degree education were calculated influence by the government, or whether they were services a government should be providing to the people in the first place.
In a vote to accept the resolution, it was rejected by 22 lawmakers. While 15 members voted for the resolution, there were only two members who abstained.
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