New Salary of President

The Financial Committee of the Peoples Majlis has proposed Rf. 150000 for President and Rf.75000 for vice President and the Majlis today approved Rf.100000 as the monthly salary for President for which 16 members voted in favor and Rf.75000 for Vice President. The newly appointed President however showed his concern saying that he thinks that the proposed salary is too high before the bill was send to the parliament for approval. At the Majlis session held yesterday, the parliament members discussed about the proposal of the Financial Committee and indeed all the members felt that the salary was too high. Parliament members had different views and members suggested that the salary should not go beyond Rf.100000. The main discussion was held regard to the President’s salary though some members also focused on the vice president salary. However the proposed salary was approved for Vice President. This is first time that Maldives has Vice President Post who is paid same amount as the salary which was paid to previous President. Based on the local news coverage what I understood was that the proposal was made without any base, without any calculation no surveys neither any much facts. The Financial Committee came up with some amount saying that no citizen of the Maldives should get higher salary than that of President and Vice President and if the salary is low then it will hinder their responsibilities. The President should be paid highly so that he will be able to fully commit to his responsibilities as President.

What amazed me was a comment from a member saying that the President should get enough salary to build his house and make his life comfortable when he leaves President Post and he should not be a burden for the Parliament after that. These members once were saying that the former president was spending government money for his own private use. Is this making any sense to us?

Before the parliament approves the salary, it has to be more transparent without any loopholes. People elect president and hand him responsibilities of leading the nation forgetting that he has a life and needs to be fulfilled. He is a human being like any of us. He has to be paid like us. People are not willing to accept this because President they believe that President is entitled for numerous allowances and gets everything. People want to know reason why he needs a separate salary to secure his future. I am not bother about that he is under or over paid but curious to know why and for what he is being paid that huge amount despite with all facilities.

What I feel is that when a Parliament opted to revise the salary it has to be shared with the whole society and people should know what really this salary refers to?. This is to avoid the unwanted accusations. Now the question is that whatever parliament approves does it have the consent of the people of Maldives as members are appointed by the people. I do not think so. What about the people who did not tick for them.