Speaker Abdul Raheem Predicts Productive Year Ahead for Parliament
The Speaker of Parliament, Abdul Raheem Abdulla, has expressed confidence that the new year will be the most productive for the parliament, with plans to focus on public interest initiatives.
Speaking during the Raajje Miadhu programme on Public Service Media (PSM), Abdul Raheem assured citizens that the 20th Parliament Assembly would deliver on its responsibilities effectively.
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“I would like to assure the citizens that they will be satisfied with the 20th Parliament Assembly. We assure to attend to the responsibilities entrusted to us by the citizens,” Abdul Raheem stated.
The Speaker also reflected on the parliament’s achievements in the past year, highlighting the completion of several significant legislative efforts. He expressed satisfaction with the parliament’s overall performance in 2024, particularly praising the efficiency of parliamentary sittings and committee work.
Key legislative milestones in 2024 included amendments to the Constitution, the introduction of tourism tax hikes, and revisions to the Tobacco Control Act.
Looking ahead, Abdul Raheem noted that the state budget passed by the current parliament, which has a People’s National Congress (PNC) supermajority, will drive development initiatives in 2025. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has described the MVR 56.6 billion budget as a catalyst for a “golden era of housing” in the Maldives.
The Speaker expressed confidence that development projects under this budget would face no financial obstacles. He also suggested that 2025 would see the highest number of development projects in the nation’s history.
The previous administration had approved an MVR 49.8 billion budget for 2024, which the current parliament later supplemented with an additional MVR 5.1 billion. Abdul Raheem explained that limited funds in the initial budget had hindered development projects during the government’s first year in office.
With a more substantial budget now in place, the government and parliament are optimistic about implementing transformative projects across the Maldives.
