Maldives Trade Union’s Secretary General Saudhullah Ahmed says the Members of Parliament have been passing laws that overall disadvantaged the public and damaged the nation. He said the Parliamentarians have to be held accountable for damages to the nation.

Speaking in RaajjeTV’s ‘Fala Suruhee’ program, Saudhullah referred to the Presidential Address, refuting the claims made by the President that the economy had developed. He said the economy cannot be defined by boulders and scrap metal on the port, but rather on the prosperity of public. He added that increasing debt, given the economy of the country, was perilous, noting that most of the public were already destitute.

“Economy should be on affluence of average citizen. They have to be prosperous. That’s the economy we talk about,” Saudhullah said.

Saudhullah noted that this year, the Parliament had listed MVR 150 million from sticker revenue, alleging that MPs were focused on “ripping off the public”. He further said that while the Government had claimed multi-millions in investments, they were actually hindering small and mid-level businesses.

“All this is carried out by the very individuals who claim they’re looking out for the public. The Parliamentarians have to be 100 percent responsible for everything that’s wrong with the country now. If they were accountable, they will not change the Constitution to the whims of the President, or vote for every bill the Government puts forward. If the Members are responsible, then land cannot be sold, there will not be corruption, the judiciary will not be at this level and unjust verdicts will not be passed,” Saudhullah said.