Opposition parliamentarians call to cut fuel duties entirely

Opposition parliamentarians have proposed to reduce duties levied on fuel to zero percent.

President Abdulla Yameen’s administration had hiked duties on fuel to 10 percent, which was at nil before he assumed office.

The opposition responded to a proposal from government-aligned parliamentarians that would cut duties to five percent, by calling to cut duties entirely.

At the discussion on the parliamentary floor, the Maldivian Democratic Party’s parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Solih said that he accepts the government-sponsored proposal but advocates that the five percent figure be reduced to zero.

He further said that while the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives’ proposal would cut state income by 50 percent, the ramifications of it – particularly its impact on the budget – must be analyzed by a government committee.

Solih took sea travelers as an example to state that Maldivians deserve to be able to purchase fuel at the lowest possible price because of its scattered geography – as the archipelago is made of isolated atolls and clustered islands.

The opposition Jumhooree Party’s Ali Hussein said that fuel needs to be a commodity that goes without being taxed.

“This is not a change but a reversion. We need to go back to not levying any duties on fuel” he said.

MP Hussein further asked that the administration refrain from cutting back on development projects and social welfare citing duty slashes, if the bill is passed.