Illegal recommendations were put to the vote in relation to the budget- Gasim

Chair of the Budget Committee of the Peoples’ Majlis and leader of the Jumhooree Party, Gasim Ibrahim has said that some of the recommendations put to vote and passed in the Majlis yesterday for the state budget of 2013 were unlawful and such recommendations cannot be put to a vote.

Gasim Ibrahim made this remark speaking at the meeting of the Jumhooree Party held at M. Konooz. He said that the leasing of islands for tourism is a responsibility given to the government by the constitution and the government does not have to request the permission of the Majlis to lease islands. He said that it is unconstitutional and illegal to compel the government to do as such before leasing islands for tourism. He stressed that he does not believe that the Majlis can pass something like that in contradiction to what is stated in the constitution regarding the matter.

Gasim said that the Majlis should not pass recommendations in a way that it will halt the laws when the government starts to act on these budget recommendations. He said that the MPs should resign if they continue to oppose the law.

In addition to this Gasim noted that it is not from his policies to take taxes from the people but however the state today is forced to take such taxes to provide necessary services to the people.

“The matter was debated extensively at the budget review committee meetings. All members agreed to amend import duty regulations. Despite this how was it passed in the Majlis today? This surely makes us doubt the sincerity of a people who have vowed to uphold the government,” he said.