Majlis Secretariat Responds To Criticism Over MPs Asset Disclosures

The Secretariat of the People’s Majlis has responded to criticisms regarding delays in the disclosure of MPs’ financial statements following their swearing-in in June.

The Parliament Secretariat said today that MPs are not required to declare and disclose their assets before 28 May 2025, with the deadline for disclosure set for 31 August 2025, as stipulated in the parliament’s standing orders.

advertisement

The Secretariat also highlighted that the 19th parliament, which concluded its term in May, is required to publish their financial statements by 31 August 2024, according to the standing orders.

ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ ޤަވާއިދުގެ 68 ވަނަ މާއްދާގެ (ށ)ގައި ބަޔާންކޮށްފައިވަނީ މަޖިލީހުގެ މެންބަރުންގެ މުދަލާއި ފައިސާގެ ބަޔާން ނުވަތަ މާލީ ބަޔާން ހުށަހަޅަންވާނީ، އެ މެންބަރެއްގެ މެންބަރު ކަމުގެ ހުވާކުރާ ތާރީޚުން ފެށިގެން 1 (އެކެއް) އަހަރުދުވަސް ފުރިހަމަ ވުމުންނެވެ.…— People's Majlis (@mvpeoplesmajlis) July 3, 2024

These statements were made in response to a post on X by the NGO Transparency Maldives (TM), which pointed out that MPs have yet to publicise their assets since taking office.

The standing orders in question were passed by the 19th parliament, which included a supermajority of parliamentarians from the current opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP). Notably, MDP MPs had disclosed their assets during the 2019 campaign before their election, in contrast to the current MPs in parliament.

In its response, the parliament singled out TM for “its tweet calling on parliament members to disclose financial statements without properly checking the regulations.”

TM acknowledged that the current system requires MPs to declare assets after 18 months, but highlighted that this prolonged period makes it difficult to ascertain any illicit enrichment by MPs during this time.

“This gap allows MPs to potentially serve their own interests rather than those of the public,” TM stated.

The NGO expressed concern that members continue to prioritise their own interests in parliament over those of the public.

TM’s initial post was made in response to Gasim Ibrahim, the chair of the Public Accounts Committee, who advocated for his own business interests during a committee meeting. Gasim claimed that his company, Horizon Fisheries, should receive subsidies and loans from the government similar to those provided to the state-owned Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO).

Asset Declarations of current Parliament Members at the time of taking office have not been made public!

The private interests of Parliamentarians, including ownership interests in businesses and other ventures must be known to the electorate!@mvpeoplesmajlis#Haamakurey https://t.co/fkGSG9gx2t— Transparency MV (@TransparencyMV) July 3, 2024

The current parliament, along with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and cabinet ministers, has faced increasing criticism for failing to disclose their assets.

TM has long lobbied for stronger asset declaration measures that align with international best practices.

According to a 2020 report by the NGO, the legislature currently has the weakest asset disclosure mechanism among the three branches of government. MPs are required to disclose only six types of information related to their assets, in contrast to judges, who disclose 21 types of information, and the president and cabinet ministers, who disclose 14 types.

Notably, MPs are not required to disclose details of gifts they receive or money and assets from benefactors.

A bill drafted by TM in 2022, proposing stronger asset disclosure mechanisms, remained at the committee stage when the 19th parliament concluded.