Main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s Parliamentary Group leader and MP for central-Henveiru constituency, Ali Azim has revealed the party’s decision to seek a 20 percent deduction from salaries of parliamentarians, from the People’s Majlis, as the country works to curb a spread of the novel coronavirus disease that reached Maldives earlier this month.

Taking to Twitter on Monday, the MP revealed that the request seeking a 20 percent deduction on the salaries of parliamentarians will be made at the parliament’s Public Accounts’ Committee through the Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed.

This decision comes at a time the Minister of Finance, Ibrahim Ameer has sought a MVR 19.3 million deduction from the parliament budget.

Speaking to RaajjeMV regarding the matter, Azim stated that the decision was reached in consideration of the critical condition due to the fast-spreading Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) across the globe.

Parliamentarians get a salary of MVR 42,000 with added allowances for housing, MVR 20,000, committee, MVR 20,000 which totals their monthly pay to MVR 82,000.

If the motion is passed, parliamentarians will receive a salary of MVR 65,600.