Aasandha and allowances should be stopped for the rich: Saleem

Universal health insurance and state benefits should not be extended to the wealthy, PNC MP and businessman Ahmed Saleem (Red Wave Saleem) has said today.

Speaking during parliamentary debate on next year’s budget, Eydhafushi MP Saleem said Aasandha, the Maldives’ universal health insurance scheme, and other welfare programmes should be reserved for those in need.

“In this country, no matter how rich a person is, they are entitled to Aasandha and NSPA services,” Saleem said.

“Even the MVR 5,000 that people receive when they turn 65 is also given to the wealthy. No matter how big a businessman, he takes that MVR 5,000. We need to look at these things and put an end to them.”

Saleem questioned whether it made sense for the rich to benefit from funds meant for the poor.

“Zakat has to be given to the poor and the needy. That change has to be brought to this country,” Chair of parliament’s Budget Review Committee, Saleem said.

Saleem urged stronger efforts to collect property zakat from the wealthy, arguing that if such funds were properly distributed, poverty could be eradicated.

Citing the example of Caliph Umar bin Abdul Aziz, he said the Maldives could similarly eliminate poverty with the right reforms.

“If we do things right, there will be no poor among us. This country has only about 400,000 people,” he said.

Both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have long recommended that the Maldives cut spending on universal subsidies and free services. Successive governments have pledged to make welfare benefits more targeted, but progress has remained limited.