Parliament approves MVR 17.9 billion budget

The parliament has approved the MVR 17.9 billion State Budget for 2014 proposed by the government.

The budget was passed with 55 votes in favour. It was voted against by two MPs, while eleven MPs abstained.

The two MPs who voted against the budget were Maafannu-Dhekunu MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bondey) and Mahchangolhi-Uthuru MP Mariya Ahmed.

The budget was passed with 27 out of 35 amendments, including 14 amendments proposed by MP Gasim Ibrahim who proposed that MVR 122.5 million be transferred to state institutions from the special budget of the Ministry of Finance.

Other amendments passed by the parliament include an amendment by Dhidhdhoo MP Ahmed Sameer, proposing to transfer MVR 7.1 million to the health sector from the special budget of the Ministry of Finance, and an amendment by Ihavandhoo MP Ahmed Abdullah, proposing to increase the budget of the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure by MVR 35 million for land reclamation for islands affected by the tsunami.

Amendments that were rejected by the parliament include one proposed by Hoarafushi MP Ahmed Rasheed to extend lease periods of resorts to 50 years and to remove the income from concession fees from the budget, one proposed by Henveyru-Dhekunu MP Hamid Abdul Gafoor to reduce the budget by MVR 2 billion, and one proposed by Hulhumeedhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb proposing to cap the highest interest rate for PSIP loans at seven percent.

The former government proposed a budget of MVR 16.4 billion, which was reviewed by the new government and increased to MVR 17.5 billion. It was further increased by the Budget Review Committee to MVR 18.2 billion, but later reduced to MVR 17.9 billion upon the government’s request.