Committee member and Nolhivaram constituency MP Mohamed 'Colonel' Nazim said the decision was made based on the advice given by the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) Governor Fazeel Najeeb. The Governor had told the budget review committee that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also feels that the ideal budget for Maldives would be MVR14.5 billion based on the economic and financial status of the country. Hence, it would be easier to manage State expenditure and deficit if the budget could be maintained to an amount close to that figure, Fazeel added. The committee has also decided that the government should not secure loans in excess of MVR2 billion next year. Despite the decision by the committee to slash the budget to MVR14.5 billion, it has to be passed on the Parliament floor. Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has opposed the decision of the committee to reduce the proposed budget.