No indication of cost-cutting in budget: Meekail

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem has stated that although several government leaders have claimed that they are undertaking cost-cutting measures, no indication of this is found in the proposed budget. 

Addressing parliament during the budget debate, Meekail criticized the omission of targeted subsidies from the proposed budget - despite President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's repeated pledges in his Presidential Address to implement them as a cost-cutting measure. 

"The honourable President has made commitments to the IMF, World Bank, and other institutions, promising cost reductions and an end to political appointments in the coming year," Meekail said. 

He said that, despite this, political posts are being handed out, adding that he understands that thousands of new hires will be made to SOEs as the local council elections are drawing close. 

"So we can see that this is a costly, wasteful budget," Meekail said. 

Meekail went on to say that the Auditor General, too, has raised concerns about the delays in the government implementing fiscal reforms, and accused ruling People's National Congress (PNC) of ignoring his advice. 

"It is for this reason that we see the Auditor General's Office is also politicized at this time. I don't see this government implementing what the Auditor General is saying even despite these political influences. We cannot see in this budget how costs will be cut, how the payroll will be decreased."

Budget Committee Chair, MP Ahmed Saleem, also spoke in parliament today about lowering State expenditure. 

Saleem said that Aasandha and such services should be made available only to those in need. 

"In this country, Aasandha and NSPA are available even to the richest people. Even a millionaire gets the MVR 5000 allowance once they reach 65 years and above. Even the most prominent businessman takes this MVR 5000 allowance. So we need to take this into consideration," Saleem said. 

The proposed budget for next year is at MVR 64.2 billion.