Pro-government MP Nihan condemns opposition protests in parliament

MP Ahmed Nihan has condemned opposition parliamentarians choosing to protest during sittings, adding that their ‘affinity towards violence against other MPs’ is wholly unnecessary.

He made the claim while speaking at Wednesday’s debate on a supplementary budget of nearly MVR 493 million for the government. Parliamentarians aligned with the opposition had boycotted the debate.

Nihan responded to the opposition’s claim that Parliament Speaker Abdulla Maseeh, also aligned with the ruling party and has multiple motions proposed against him, had built a platform to elevate his seat inside the parliament premises out of 'cowardice'.

“Every Maldivian knows that the platform was built to keep this nonsense away. We as parliamentarians must be an example to the citizens, we must follow what religion says and practice patience” Nihan said.

Nihan also said in jest that the parliament needs to debate on a budget to provide mental health treatment to parliamentarians aligned with the opposition and those violate the decorum of sittings.

Finance Minister Ahmed Munavvar proposed the supplementary budget to 2017’s annual budget on Tuesday. The government proposed a record high budget for this year, of 27.5 billion.