Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has intensified his criticism of Barbara Malimali’s appointment, urging Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to take action. Chaudhry expressed disappointment that Rabuka is deferring to the Judicial Service Commission, which recommended Malimali for the Office of the President, instead of intervening himself.
Chaudhry emphasized that appointing Malimali, who is currently under investigation for alleged abuse of office, contravenes the rule of law and undermines good governance principles. He also suggested that the appointment may have been orchestrated to shield Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad from being charged with filing false declarations with the Registrar of Political Parties.
He noted that seven other Cabinet ministers have also been referred to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) by the Registrar for comparable violations, coinciding with the resignation of acting Deputy Commissioner Francis Puleiwai. Malimali, according to Chaudhry, was hastily moved from the Electoral Commission to head FICAC.
Chaudhry warned that the mishandling of Malimali’s appointment has alarmed the nation, disrupted the business sector, and weakened investor confidence. He stressed that the Prime Minister can no longer remain passive as Malimali’s appointment has escalated into a significant national issue. He urged Rabuka to take action to restore trust in his administration, asserting that inaction will reinforce the belief that the government is self-serving and lacks integrity.
Chaudhry also raised concerns about Malimali’s intention to review files of senior political figures, questioning her motives and her silence regarding her own case. He warned that any attempt to obstruct or obscure investigations would only worsen the already tense situation.