Any person taking up public office must ensure that they comply with section 14(1) of the of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013, says Registrar of Political Parties Mohammed Saneem.
In a statement issued yesterday, he said public office holders according to section 14(1) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013 (Act) are not eligible to be an applicant or a member of a registered political party, not eligible to hold office in a registered political party, are not to engage in political activity that may compromise or be seen to compromise the political neutrality of that person’s office in an election; or publicly indicate support for or opposition to any proposed political party or a registered political party or candidate in an election.
This newspaper had sent questions to Mr Saneem yesterday, asking him if the Fijian Elections Office would look into comments made by FijiFirst party leader Voreqe Bainimarama on the role FFP general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum would play after he was nominated and took on a role as member of the Constitutional Offices Commission.
In a video statement on the FFP Facebook page on Tuesday, Mr Bainimarama said Mr Sayed-Khaiyum’s exit from Parliament “will mean that he will be able to fully concentrate on FijiFirst matters outside Parliament”.
“I will be leading the charge inside Parliament and he will be leading the charge outside Parliament,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“So to ensure that we are constantly in touch with our supporters and all Fijians on a daily basis, I have tasked our general secretary to be our voice outside Parliament.
“He will be in our parliamentary office, he will give us advice and also issue statements on behalf of FijiFirst when Parliament is not sitting.”
