Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, the former Attorney-General and Economy Minister, has called out Members of Parliament (MPs) who voted against or abstained from a recent pay rise and benefits increase for themselves, suggesting they should not benefit from the pay rise approved by others. In a recent social media post, he emphasized that if these MPs were genuine in their opposition, they should have taken action by donating their anticipated pay increase to a charitable organization or creating a trust for charitable purposes, aimed at aiding ordinary Fijians.
Sayed-Khaiyum expressed disappointment that these MPs had not yet taken steps to demonstrate their sincerity and stated that revealing any donations or charitable trusts would help restore public confidence. He pointed out that transparency in their actions would give ordinary Fijians insight into the MPs’ intentions and show a clear distinction between those who sought personal gain and those who truly care about their constituents’ struggles amid tough economic times.
The political landscape following the pay rise is quite revealing, with a total of 40 MPs supporting the salary changes, while seven opposed and five abstained from voting. This situation provides an opportunity for MPs who opposed the pay rise to differentiate themselves further by taking commendable actions that hold them accountable to the public.
This call for transparency and community-oriented actions presents a chance for MPs to restore trust and demonstrate their commitment to serving the interests of their constituents. It encourages a spirit of accountability and thoughtful governance that could inspire future political actions aimed at enhancing the welfare of all Fijians.
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