Exploitation of Privileges Should be Taxed
Posted on December 29th, 2010
Prof. Hudson McLean
65 MPs earn millions from sale of vehicle permits
The above statement made by a National newspaper highlights the violation of a Parliamentary privilege by exploitation, for personal profit. The MPs are turning privileges immediately for personal gain.
The vehicle permits are given for a reason, mainly to serve the electorate of the MPs.
If this facility is not required by the MP, then it should be returned to the Ministry. The profit made on the sale of the permit should be subjected to Income or Personal Gains tax at a rate of 90%.
The permit should be given on the stipulation that it cannot be transferred or sold forward for a period of three years.
An additional tax should be levied on the purchaser to discourage such transactions.
The tax may be based on the market value and may be imposed fully.
The MPs are being offered generous benefits and any exploitation should be heavily taxed.
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December 29th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Prof. Hudson McLean has opened up an important issue for SERIOUS CONCERN AND ATTENTION of the Govt., as this revealation is TOTAL VIOLATION OF PREVELAGES OFFERED TO PEOPLE ELECTED BAFOONS WHO CAL THEMSELVES HONOURARY MP xxxx.,.Although late its better than never.This sort of abuse of prevelages was introduced by none other than JR JAYAWARDANA, who was addressed as UTHUMANENI by UNP stooge Ananda Tissa De Alwis in an TV Interview when JRJ was the President.If these elected lot are Honourable people, they need to FOREGO THEIR PENSIONS FOR WHICH THEY ARE ENTITLE AT THE END OF MERE 5 YRS AS A MP.These luxury vehicles are given duty free to these thakakadiyas to SERVE THE GENERAL MASSESS in their electorates. In addition to obtaining these duty free vehicles, Ministers and Deputy Ministers make use of Ministry Vehicles in good numbers.
So its high time to stop both Pensions Scheme and Duty Free Vehicles to these HORA NADE(THOSE WHO MISUSE AND ABUSE THE PREVELEGES) ASAP to minimise unwanted Govt Expenses.
Like to hear the VOICES OF UNP-JVP DNA NADE!!!
December 29th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
The names of all those MPs who sold their permits must be published so that the people who voted for them to be elected as their representatives would know who these vutures are. To begin with why they were given permits to import vehicles? They would have been given a rupee loan to buy a vehicle from a Sri Lanka manufacturer who is presently advertising on national broadcasting corportation channel City FM. In th alternative, strict conditions like non transferability by sale or other means of the vehicle or the permit should have been imposed.
An investigation should be carried out and if any of these permits have been sold, prohibit the importation of the vehicle or if already imported the Govt. must acquire it and auction it to the public. This will leave the owner of the permit and the purchaser of it to settle the dispute for themselves. Also it will prevent the future abuse of power and exploitation of concessions given to deserving persons.
This matter has received wide publicity in the recent months and the silence on the part of the Govt. is very worrying. Those in authority should realize that these events will be remembered by the public in silence and appropriate steps would be taken when the time comes. It is therefore wise to nip this in the bud and show the people that MR’s Govt. means good governance and wan’t tolerate these nonsence.
December 29th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Thank you Prof. Hudson McLean for the Idea which, I am sure 99% Sri lankans would approve.
We have been hopeful waiting for a year now for such rules and regulations plus enforcement implemented in the country youand me love. Nothing seems to be happening in this regard but cabinet has grown to 70% Gov MPs and a landmark laws yet to be passed at Jayapura.
December 30th, 2010 at 8:18 am
MPs Salaries are poor. Truth is; it is not sufficient to pay for their upkeep. Yet, most MPs spend a fortune to get re-elected. Why?
Whatever the reason, mostly dishonest candidates get elected. And, only a dim-witted voter thinks they are striving to do social service. Everyone else knows they are in for their bear.
Intelligent voters are confused; they do not know who is corrupt and who is not corrupt. They are compelled to be apathetic.
This is JRJ’s system. To get his system going, he corrupted his MPs first. He had their resignation letters in his pocket. Then he gave them a car permits just before elections to sell them and get re-elected. Only a few opposition candidates benefitted because 5/6 th of existing MPs at the time were from his party.
Thanks to JRJ; today, all MPs follow suit.
December 31st, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Leela says MPs salaries are poor. Wouldn’t it be better to give MPs a fair salary and have a government Car Pool from which MPs can hire cars at a nominal fee while they are in office ?
MPs who perform exceptionally well might be awarded a title of recognition of services to the country, such as the Deshamanya tile. There could be two or three other titles of recognition for good work, graded according to performance.
December 31st, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Fran and Herold,
Lee Kuan Yew , when he increased his salary a very high figure together with minsters pay said ( something like),
“I am a prime minister with one of the least incomes in the world although my salary is probeably in the top bracket of the world”
Before increasing salaries law and order should be re-established. Punishement including caning ( Singapore example) first. Then increase 5 or 10 times, no problems. Cane one or two, hang just one- everything will be OK. I am sure prof will agree – if he likes Singapore so much.
January 1st, 2011 at 9:06 am
MPs have to be motivated to serve the country. The “Entrepreneur’s Reward” or the “Incentive Work” has to be there. How do we achieve this ?
It is because the ‘entrepreneur’s reward’ was missing that the Soviet Communist economy crashed. On the other side, uncontrolled Capitalism is as bad too, as we saw that a crash almost happened in USA, where Money accumulated in the hands of a few for no real work done, mainly through clever/underhand manipulation of the Money Market. The situation is turning around by wise moves by President Obama & his government.
The best thing is to allow reasonable and acceptable “Incentive to Work” for our MPs. At least, some of the Big Rewards should be given ONLY after the Work is done. For example, the possession of a car for life should be gifted to an MP for exceptional services to the country. The rest of the time, MPs can hire a car from GoSL Car Pool for a nominal amount, in keeping with the MPs salary. Also, this system can be used to strip an MP of Rewards if found guilty of misdemeanors. So, basically, a REWARDS SYSTEM has to be devised for our MPs.
Ideally, Big Money should change hands for Goods & Services only. Indian govt. clerical ‘Santhosam’ culture is not wise.
January 2nd, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Fran,
I agree.
I also agree that Indian models should be aovided at all costs.