HONIARA – The chairperson of Transparency Solomon Islands says self-serving MPs are effectively legalising corruption in Solomon Islands.

This comes after MPs were given a 3.5 per cent pay rise on April 1, the same day that tax was reinstated on their previously tax free salaries.

Ruth Liloqula said the action meant MPs would continue to receive the same amount of money they had been receiving on tax free pay effectively negating the reinstated tax.

Ms Liloqula said this was a selfish action and while they might argue it is legal, it does not make it right.

“They should be operating under the basic fundamental principles where it is spelt out in the Constitution that we should make decisions for the benefit of everybody and not for the benefit of a few groups or certain groups of people but more and more we are seeing that happening,” she said.