The situation surrounding the FICAC remains unresolved, particularly regarding whether the newly appointed commissioner has stepped down from her role as chair of the Electoral Commission of Fiji.
Last night, the Judicial Services Commission, which is in charge of FICAC appointments, released a statement detailing the appointment process but did not address her status with the Electoral Commission.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka indicated his lack of knowledge about whether Ms. Malimali had resigned from her position at the Electoral Commission. He remarked, “Not that I know of,” and confirmed he asked the Attorney-General that morning to ensure clarity on the matter. He emphasized that Ms. Malimali cannot hold both positions simultaneously and must resign from the Electoral Commission.
Mr. Rabuka, who also chairs the Constitutional Offices Commission responsible for appointing the Electoral Commission, stated he could not comment on Ms. Malimali’s new role as FICAC commissioner, noting that the appointment is made by the Judicial Service Commission and then goes to the President.
Opposition leader Inia Seruiratu criticized the apparent lack of coordination among government agencies and raised concerns about the legality of holding two contracts simultaneously. He noted that certain protocols must be followed when resigning, including providing notice, but acknowledged that he had not raised this issue directly with the Prime Minister.
Mr. Rabuka confirmed he had sought clarification from Attorney-General Graham Leung regarding Ms. Malimali’s resignation from the Electoral Commission. Although Ms. Malimali was unavailable for comment, a statement from FICAC confirmed her three-year appointment took effect on September 5 and asserted that she would not allow recent developments to hinder her duties. The statement acknowledged her role as chairperson of the Electoral Commission but did not specify when she resigned from that position.