The Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, it was interesting to sense a tinge of guilt in the Hon. Minister of Justice and National Integration when moving this Bill. He said, in effect, “This may not be good now, but when good, upright MPs come in the future, we will bring it back.” I reflected on that. Most of the MPs here now are from your side; you have 159, including many new Members. Are you saying they are not the “good, upright, corruption-free” MPs you spoke of? This Bill looks like a small sugar coating to the public.

¶ 02 I have no claim to a pension, nor do I seek one. Some of us can earn from our profession anywhere. My colleague Hon. Aboobucker Athambawa was a long-serving teacher. My father, a Judge who later served the Judicial Service Commission, earned a state pension; because of that, my mother maintains dignity and independence even today. Remember: once a right is granted by law, you cannot arbitrarily take it away; it is wrong to do so.

¶ 03 New Zealand abolished parliamentary pensions, yes—but established a welfare fund for needy retired MPs. Not from state funds, but from Member contributions. We, too, could contribute from our salaries to an independently managed fund for genuinely needy retired MPs. There is nothing like that here. I drafted a full set of amendments; since you would not accept them, I will bring a Private Member’s Bill to that effect.

¶ 04 Second, you claim to be fulfilling the Manifesto of “A Beautiful Life.” Look at page 129—you have more promises to honour, such as repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Instead, you are bringing something worse. I have already handed the Secretary-General a Private Member’s Bill to repeal the PTA and relocate terrorism-related offences into the Penal Code as ordinary offences triable under general law, with bail only by the Supreme Court under the Bail Act. Likewise, I will bring a Bill to create a contributory welfare fund for retired MPs in need—just as our village death donation societies do. How will we look after former MPs with no other income?

¶ 05 Recently, our leader visited Prof. Tissa Vitarana. Former MP Ananda Sangaree told him, “Hon. Rauff Hakeem, I live on my pension.” His son is a Member of Parliament in Canada—that is irrelevant. Even if a child is affluent, we must ensure the parent can live independently with dignity on a pension earned after full-time Parliamentary service. Support my new Bill when I present it. What you are doing now is unfair: abolishing without a suitable alternative. Internationally there are options; Members can contribute to a fund to aid those in need. You have not done that.

¶ 06 The Government keeps rushing Bills and then withdrawing them. As the Hon. Speaker said this morning, do not bring “bills with tails” hastily, without studying needs, history, or consequences. Listen to the many learned legal minds on your side.

¶ 07 My time is up. In conclusion, this is a mistake. I will bring corrective legislation, including my Private Member’s Bill to repeal the PTA. Thank you.