Charity begins at home

Ever since Majlis remuneration was set at Rf 62,500, much has been said about it. The main reason for public dissatisfaction about the issue was, I believe, due to a deliberate attempt by the then Information Minister to try and discredit parliament in the public by immediately giving the decision huge media coverage. Television Maldives simply stated the amount, and asked members of the public their opinion on it. Of course there was dissatisfaction, because the public were not told that all Cabinet Ministers and about 100 other political appointees were being paid the same, some of them more. The public were not told why this decision was made.

Ever so often, whenever anyone wants to bash an MP or the Majlis, they talk about this. With time, the benefits also keeps growing exponentially in the public mind. I have largely remained silent about the issue. But I believe the time has come now for me to disclose details of Majlis remuneration and benefits and why I voted for it at the time.

Firstly Majlis remuneration and benefits. It is as follows:
Each Member of the Majlis is entitled to :
Rf 42,500/- as salary
Rf 20,000 as allowance
*Medical insurance for the MP, spouse and children
A Diplomatic passport
Use of VIP lounges at airports (both national and international, domestic and overseas)
Immunity from arrest on their way to and back from Parliament
Assistance (non-monetary) from government offices across the country, should they visit the offices or any island.

*Medical insurance has still not been issued.

These are (excepting salary and allowance) standard benefits to MPs in most democratic countries. Honour is accorded to them because they are charged with making decisions on behalf of the entire nation, and more importantly, the people honoured them by electing them to be their representatives.

The salary is equivalent to that of Cabinet Ministers. Cabinet Ministers at that time had many other perks of office, and unlimited medical expenses from the government accounts.

In return for these benefits and honour, MPs are expected to work without specified hours in the Majlis. The sittings (jalsa) of the Majlis is only one aspect of an MPs work. Most MPs work in 2 or three committees (sometimes more). On average, an MP often spends time at the Majlis from 9 in the morning through to 10 in the evening, with breaks in between, depending on timings of committees, working through most weekends as well. In addition, most conscientious MPs are available to their constituents either by phone, in their offices, or often at their homes in person, round the clock. I can safely say that MPs, generally speaking, would be the people with the least bit of privacy or own time.

Until the revision of MPs’ benefits in August this year, an MP’s salary was Rf7000, housing allowance of Rf 5000, a telephone allowance of Rf1500, an office allowance of Rf 3000, a staff allowance of Rf 1500 and committee allowance of Rf 300 per sitting, and a maximum of Rf 12000 per annum on transportation costs for travel to constituencies. Travel costs were paid directly by Majlis to service provider (or reimbursement on presentation of bills) and not to MPs.

Ever since I was elected to the Special Majlis in 2004, I have maintained a rented office and a paid secretary to attend to my constituents and to assist me in Parliamentary work (Office rent Rf 5000, phone and electricity about Rf 3000, staff salary Rf 4,000). As per government rules at the time, I was not entitled to housing allowance (because I am from Male’) or transportation allowances (because I was Male’ MP).

Work wise, in addition to Majlis jalsa and the 4 committees I was serving on, I also spend considerable time daily, to meet constituents, listen to their troubles, take follow up action with relevant government offices to solve their problems. Normally, I don’t get home before 10 or 11 pm. Often, I eat dinner with a constituent when I get home, because he or she would have been waiting in my house for me to return because of an urgent problem that just can’t wait until the next morning. And then I will usually spend another 2 or 3 hours going through bills for the next day, or preparing for committee work for the next day. If I am lucky, I will get to bed by about 1 am, and if I am extremely lucky I will not be woken up by someone calling me on my phone at 2 or 3 am. If I really put an effort and pull myself out of bed by 6 am, I might get a glimpse of my kids before they go off to school. The weekend Friday I have the luxury of sleeping-in until Prayer time, and after lunch I have the relaxing work of going through research and preparing the next question for some Minister or drafting a new bill or a motion or a resolution which will hopefully ease the suffering of some citizens, if passed by the Majlis.

And the long recesses! Another myth. Even though Majlis jalsa breaks in May, September, January and February, committees still go on. Most MPs travel to their constituencies. Others engage in research and bill preparation etc.

In fact, the past four years was almost without a break. With Majlis members having to work in both Majlis and Special Majlis, the demand on time was immense. As Chair of the Drafting Committee, I often worked late into the night with my team of draftsmen and the consultant, getting ready for the next day’s committee meeting.

The privileged and luxurious life of any conscientious MP is such.

But why did I vote for increase in pay for MP’s? There is a story behind this. Up until then, MPs were lowly paid people who couldn’t make ends meet. Every so often they would have to either go to the Government or some rich businessman for assistance in basic survival. MPs depended on their government jobs to simply make ends meet. They were forever fearful of either losing their jobs, or displeasing the friendly businessman or the government in case they may reject his appeal for assistance for that lifesaving surgery for his son. The result was seen in Parliament voting patterns. The difference was seen after the change in remuneration.

A more compelling reason for me was to try and make the next Majlis more independent. We had to devise a way of attracting educated, young professionals to the Majlis. People who would understand the democratic process. We had to devise a way for them to be in Majlis with confidence and not kow-tow to The Powers. Of course, nothing is fool proof in this game. But at least, people can look forward to a dignified life as an MP now. Again the result is being seen with the number of people, particularly independent candidates, who are coming forward to contest elections this time.

Therefore, it saddens me when people harp on about Majlis remuneration everytime they want to have a go at an MP. They compare MP remuneration to civil servants. But this is not comparable. Civil servants are tenured, MPs are not. Their responsibility is limited to a specific task or tasks. MPs responsibilities are different, and varied. Civil servants have no fear of political reprisal. MPs live through it everyday. Civil servants are protected by the Civil Service Act and the Labour Law. MPs are not. Civil Servants can go home at knock-off time and work by the clock. MPs can’t. Civil servants report to one boss. MPs are accountable to the entire public. MPs don’t have an enviable life, I can tell you. If critics really want to better the country, it might do well for them to focus on performances of MPs rather talk about their remuneration.

I decided to write this post because there still are people who are either misguided or very venomous and vengeful, and the venom spreads. When attacks are made, it is also often at those of us who at least keep communication channels open. Those MPs who are actually betraying the people don’t get to hear those comments, neither could they be bothered. Why? Because they know, come election time, they will still get away with it, because they have the money, or some big party will back them, and they will get re-elected. The result? It is only the sincere people who will get fed up with the vengeful public and leave them to their woes and pursue things which give them more happiness and less ridicule. I believe, in the end, it is only the public who will lose, and not those people.

I did not write this to talk about my busy life. I thought that just as people know about our remuneration, they should also be shown the other side of the coin.

So, readers of my blog. Should I run for Parliament again, or not? Please tick the “Mainly Agree” box for Yes, or “Mainly Disagree” box for No.

All I know is that there is nothing more that my wife and children would want than for me to quit politics and start taking care of them again. After all, charity begins at home.

Happy New Year to all.