Deputy Parliament Speaker and Galolhu North MP Eva Abdulla has expressed concern about how the supermajority deals with the opposition at the Parliament.
On Tuesday, opposition MP, Ahmed Saeed, submitted a motion at the Parliament over subpar services provided at L. Gan Hospital. However, some MPs from the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) voted against accepting the motion. However, as 23 members voted to accept the motion against 11 members, the motion was accepted.
During the debate on the issue, Eva said the motion presented by the opposition was a serious concern that needed to be addressed. She said she did not understand why the ruling party had to misuse its supermajority to block valid concerns voiced by the opposition.
Eva said there were no issues in the phrasing used in Saeed's motion and that it did not indicate that the government was neglectful of the hospital on purpose.
'No scan doctors for over three months, no ENT doctors, pregnant women having to travel to Male' for scans... When the MP for the constituency expresses these concerns regarding a hospital that caters to people of three atolls, a population of around 35,000 people, I believe it is our disciplinary responsibility as the main-ruling party, as the majority holder, and as MPs to take the issue to the relevant committee and address it,' Eva said.
The MP further said the current Parliament was operating similarly to the previous Parliament during the former administration's rule. During the time, the main-ruling party blocked motions by MDP using their majority, and MDP, then the opposition, had to resort to using megaphones at the Parliament and climbing on tables to make their voices heard, she recalled.
The Deputy Speaker reminded the ruling coalition's MPs that MDP pledged to protect the minority when the party came to power and promised not to misuse its supermajority. However, MDP's actions today are the opposite, she noted and said the party needed to 'grow up'.
'If we want to serve our people, we have no choice but to look into issues they face properly. If we make any mention of a problem as a personal jab at the government, 2023 will become very difficult [for MDP], she said.
