Parliament session concludes without voting on tax hike bill

The Parliament session on Monday concluded without calling to vote on the bill to increase Goods and Service Tax (GST) and Tourism Goods and Service Tax (TGST).

Voting was scheduled for Monday’s session, on the bill submitted by Ihavandhoo MP Mohamed Shifau on behalf of the government.

However, after recess, Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef was presiding and noted that the quorum was not met to call for a vote on the bill. He then stated that hence, the session is concluded.

Subsequently, the members supportive of the government vocalized their disapproval. Despite this, MP Afeef went ahead in concluding the session.

Moreover, protesters of the opposition were also gathered near the Parliament area voicing their issues.

Many divisions have been raised among Parliamentarians regarding this bill.

Bills such as the tax ones need at least one-third of the members to be present to call for a vote.

The government is pushing to raise the GST from 6 percent to 8 percent, and the TGST from 12 percent to 16 percent.

Supporters of the government, opposition and the general community have raised concerns over efforts to implement the tax hike. They claim the need to cut down political posts within the government and reduce pointless expenditures In order to combat the economic crisis.