The situation surrounding FICAC remains unresolved, as there are ongoing questions about whether the newly appointed commissioner has stepped down from her role as chair of the Electoral Commission of Fiji. The Judicial Services Commission, which oversees FICAC appointments, released a statement last night detailing the appointment process but did not address her status with the Electoral Commission.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka mentioned he was not aware if Ms. Malimali had resigned from her position at the Electoral Commission. “Not that I know of,” he stated, adding that he had queried the Attorney-General for clarification. He emphasized that she could not hold both positions simultaneously and would need to resign from the Electoral Commission.
As the chairman of the Constitutional Offices Commission, which appoints members to the Electoral Commission, Mr. Rabuka said he was not in a position to comment on Ms. Malimali’s appointment as FICAC commissioner, noting that the decision is made by the Judicial Service Commission and passed to the President.
Opposition leader Inia Seruiratu pointed out the apparent lack of coordination among government agencies regarding this issue. He raised concerns about the legality of holding two positions at once and mentioned that if a resignation has occurred, a notice should be provided.
However, Mr. Seruiratu admitted he has not discussed this issue with Prime Minister Rabuka directly, emphasizing the need for leadership from the Prime Minister on this matter.
Meanwhile, Mr. Rabuka has sought further information from Attorney-General Graham Leung regarding Ms. Malimali’s resignation from the Electoral Commission. Although Ms. Malimali was unavailable for comments, FICAC confirmed her three-year appointment took effect on September 5, and she intends to continue with her duties despite recent developments. The announcement acknowledged her role as chairperson of the Electoral Commission but did not specify when she had resigned from that position.