Amendment to increase elderly allowances rejected by parliament

The amendment to the Pension Act designed to increase the allowance provided by the government to the elderly has been rejected by the members of parliament.

The amendment was submitted by Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir, who courted for the allowance given to the elderly who were above the age of 65 to be increased from MVR 5000 to MVR 10,000.

Members of the majority MDP party had opposed the bill at the first reading stage and it was voted against by 58 members of the parliament.

The MDP members opposed the bill and criticized MP Jabir by stating that it was proposed without any backed-up research or data and it would force the government to take on a burden that it cannot carry for now. Some members also voiced their concern that the Pension Act would be pointless if this bill was approved.

The MP who submitted the bill, Mr. Abdullah Jabir also criticized his fellow MP’s by stating that they might not get the chance to win another election if they worked without any honesty or loyalty and just to show off.