Cabinet gives green light to gazette draft bill to amend Presidents Entitlements Act

The Cabinet of Minister has granted approval to the proposal to gazette and present in Parliament the draft bill formulated to amend the Presidents Entitlements Act (No. 4 of 1986) and reduce special privileges extended to former Presidents, their families, and retired Members of Parliament.

Last month, the Cabinet granted approval to draft legislation aimed at repealing the Presidents’ Entitlements Act No. 4 of 1986 and the Parliamentary Pensions Law No. 1 of 1977, effectively ending special privileges extended to former Presidents and former MPs.

In line with the government’s policy declaration “Pohosath Ratak – Lassana Jeewithayak” (A Wealthy Country – A Beautiful Life), the public endorsed the government’s mandate to revoke the special benefits accorded to former Presidents and their families, as well as to abolish the pensions granted to Members of Parliament after serving a five-year term, according to the statement issued by the Department of Government Information.

Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare two draft bills to enable this legislative reform.

The Legal Draftsman has now completed the drafting of the bill of Presidents Entitlements (Repeal) Act and the clearance from the Attorney General has also been given.