First Majlis sitting of Ramadan lasted only 30 minutes, is this reasonable?
Maldivian MPs display a lack of commitment, working minimal hours during Ramadan despite their lavish salaries, while average citizens toil relentlessly for meager wages. The contrast between the privileged lawmakers and the hardworking public raises doubts about their true representation of the people's interests.
A sitting of the People's Majlis
There has always been severe criticism about how Members of Parliament do not work proportionately to their salary and benefits. There are also lawmakers in the parliament who earn more than MVR 80,000 and do not regularly attend parliamentary sittings.
Although there is immense public criticism regarding this, since it is the lawmakers who make decisions regarding their affairs, the parliament does not show the positive changes that the public desires. Especially with the current administration’s super majority, the 20th People's Majlis assembly has been seen more as a parliament that hastily expedites work required to implement President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's decisions, rather than a parliament that works for the rights of the people.
Meanwhile, just a few days before Ramadan, on 13 February 2025, the People’s National Congress (PNC)-majority General Committee had even passed a resolution to close the Parliament during the fasting month. However, due to opposition from parliamentarians representing the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and intense public criticism, the decision was reversed.
At the sitting held on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla stated that during the fasting month of Ramadan, parliamentary sittings will be conducted from 10:30am to 2pm.
The first sitting of Ramadan was held on Monday, 3 March 2025. The sitting, which began at 10:30am, proceeded for 30 minutes and 26 seconds. The agenda for Monday’s sitting included reading out to the floor the responses to four written questions posed by MP for North Galolhu constituency Mohamed Ibrahim to Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed, and the work of appointing non-resident ambassadors to countries.
After completing the agenda items for Monday's sitting, all parliamentary work has been wrapped up. Previously, when looking at how work was conducted at the parliament, even after completing the items on the agenda, various committee works would continue. However, no committees have been scheduled for Monday.
It begs the question; is this what citizens truly deserve? During Ramadan and Eid, several Maldivians work tirelessly, often to the point of exhaustion, just to earn a modest living from their meager salaries. Some service providers get only rare days off, with wages that barely cover their basic living expenses. However, the members who receive MVR 82,500, showed up at the parliament house in a white shirt and tie, only to be relieved of their duties 30 minutes later. If these are the representatives of the people who believe this is what the citizens deserve, then consider the state of this nation. Should we still call them the people's members?
