Opposition MPs will not bow to “infantile wannabe smart alec comebacks” of a civil servant who has one job – and that is to ensure that people register and vote.
National Federation Party MP Lenora Qereqeretabua made this comment while referring to Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem during a debate on the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2022 in Parliament yesterday.
She said the Bill was bulldozed into Parliament in an underhanded and conniving “true FijiFirst fashion” manner through Standing Order 51.
“That is why this House has seen this same Electoral Act revised almost four times or more now, within this 2018 parliamentary term,” Ms Qereqeretabua said.
“That could be why there’s suddenly all these hypothetical alarmist scenarios being painted, to give a fake impression that the upcoming elections are intended to be free and fair.” She said Mr Saneem was not worthy of anybody’s trust.
“But we are the least bit worried.
“We are preparing to guard our votes, but no matter how high the hurdles come, we have the voices and prayers of change behind us, pushing us forward. We already know how they did things in 2014 and 2018, especially during the blackout period.
“People who were intimately involved in their plots have told us everything.
“Even their moles that they send to sit among us have been dealt with tactically.”
This week, she said Mr Saneem spoke to the media to respond to Opposition MPs interventions in Parliament.
“But who is he to this House? Who is he? He (Mr Saneem) bows at the feet of Parliament and he is accountable to all of us despite the other side trying to protect him.
“We are elected members of Parliament with our rights and privileges, and we will use it to the fullest extent that it affords.
“We will not bow to the infantile, wanna-be ‘smart alec’ comebacks of a civil servant who has one job — to ensure that people register and vote, even that he fails miserably. “Just look at his low voter turnout statistics from 2014 and 2018. His fragility is in overdrive.”
In his right of reply, Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said it was unfortunate that Ms Qereqeretabua had disappeared from Parliament when he was clarifying the issues she had raised.
“The Opposition is trying to make it into a political issue. They know full well that they will lose in the next elections and they are trying to make excuses it’s not fully fair and credible,” he said.
He then took a swipe at Fiji Law Society president Wylie Clarke.
He questioned whether Mr Clarke had consulted people before releasing a statement calling for the Bill to be withdrawn.
