On August 8 national parliament unanimously approved a US$2.79 million budget to buy new Prado four wheal drive vehicles for its 65 members. On Tuesday parliament said it would sell its old fleet.

The Movement of Students of Timor-Leste (MEUTL) said the decision to sell the vehicles ignored local need.

The group said hospitals across Timor-Leste were in need of vehicles to transport patients and medical supplies and called on parliament to donate their old vehicles to such health facilities.

“We consider this legal corruption,” MEUTL said in a statement-addressing parliament financially benefitting from the sale.

Aderito Hugo da Costa, the President of National Parliament, defended the decision saying the old vehicles were run down and required expensive repairs to maintain.

He said on Tuesday the decision was “a collective decision” approved by all national parliamentarians.