Fiji Parliament in session. 24 November 2023. Photo: Facebook / Parliament of the Republic of Fiji
Fijian MPs' should know they are "paid by taxpayers" and behave with decorum, the general secretary of the People's Alliance Party (PAP), the major partner in the Fiji coalition government, says.
"I believe that the coalition is still strong" - People's Alliance Party general secretary Usaia Pita Waqatairewa
In an interview with RNZ Pacific Waves, Usaia Pita Waqatairewa declined to comment on the [alleged sex and drug scandal] involving an MP from his party and the minor coalition partner, Sodelpa, but said parliamentarians needed to conduct themselves appropriately when holding positions of power.
"All parliamentarians must remember that they are public officers paid for by the taxpayers, [their] salaries, and the extra privileges that come with the position they are filling," he said.
"So, the public expect some decorum in the behaviour."
Waqatairewa confirmed the PAP has received a complaint against PAP MP and Women's Minister Lynda Tabuya.
While he is "not in a position to comment" on the nature of the complaint or if it was related to the sex and drug allegations, he said a decision to take action would be made three weeks from it being first laid last Monday (23 January).
"The letter has been received and activated part of the [PAP] constitution. We have started an investigation."
He said the inquiry team will conduct its investigations into the complaint and report back to the party's management committee.
"And then they will decide what will happen after that from the outcome of the investigation.
"Once the complaint is accepted by the executive committee to be investigated [they will be] given 21 days to complete their job."
Tabuya and sacked education minister Aseri Radrodro have now both denied the allegations.
Tabuya told RNZ Pacific it was "fake news", while Radrodro told local media on Friday "there's nothing".
'Intimate images' removed
The Australian government's eSafety Commissioner has instructed the editor/publisher of Grubsheet Feejee blogsite to remove "intimate images" Tabuya last week.
The blog is run by Graham Davis, an award-winning journalist turned communications consultant who was the Fijian government's communications advisor for six years from 2012 to 2018.
Davis provides commentary - at times controversial - on Fiji politics and governance issues.
He has been providing in-depth commentary on the alleged affair between the two MPs - alongside FijiLeaks - including screenshots of texts and images.
According to Davis, a message from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner stated: "The person in the intimate images does not consent to their intimate images being posted on the website administered by you".
He wrote on his website that he took down the "images of an intimate nature" to comply with the Australian online safety laws "except for one that is the head shot of the [Tabuya]…to establish her identity."
Meanwhile, RNZ Pacific has contacted Fiji's women's rights groups for comment on the issue.
Shamima Ali told RNZ Pacific she holds a different perspective to what is being reported by local media but is yet to make time for an interview.