Former President and People’s National Front (PNF) leader Abdulla Yameen has declared that he has not taken a single rufiyaa from the state budget for medical treatment or office expenses since stepping down seven years ago.  
Yameen’s comments were a response to remarks made in Parliament by Inguraidhoo MP and ruling People's National Congress (PNC) parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Falaah, who alleged that some former presidents had drawn large sums from the state and built lavish homes during their tenure.  
Yameen said neither he nor his wife, Fatimath Ibrahim, had ever billed Aasandha for medical treatment. “It has been seven years since I left the presidency. Seven years have passed and not a single penny has been taken from the government budget to run the office,” he said. He added that he had not charged the state for running his party office either, though he argued that political parties are entitled to state funding.  
In a pointed response aimed at both Falaah and President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, Yameen said: “So when people like this come up and talk like this, their own pants drop down and point back at the people who do this.” He further noted that he had no objection to cutting allowances for former presidents, but suggested such changes would ultimately affect President Muizzu more than himself. 
Former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom attends a PNF rally. (Sun Photo/Moosa Nadheem)
During Thursday’s parliamentary session, Falaah claimed Yameen was operating his party office from his home because he was receiving state funding allocated for political parties.  
The debate comes as Parliament considers a government-backed amendment to the Former Presidents’ Allowances and Protection Act. The amendment, moved by MP Mohamed Shahid, would scrap the MVR 175,000 monthly allowance currently provided to former presidents for office expenses. It also stipulates that ex-presidents will not receive benefits if they are elected for a second term or hold another public office, and that protection will not be extended to those living abroad.  
For the first time, the amendment introduces benefits for former vice presidents: a monthly allowance of MVR 25,000 and state-funded medical care both domestically and overseas. However, eligibility would be suspended if they later serve in another government post.