Tikoca: "I challenge Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to prove that my voice and character are similar to that of Darth Vader. I also challenge him to prove that Darth Vader poses like a monkey or ape in any if his characters, like he did in Parliament."
"He [Khaiyum] has breached Section 62(4)(d) of the Parliamentary Standing Orders which prohibits words that are likely to promote or provoke feelings of ill-will or hostility between communities or ethnic groups within Fiji. More seriously, he has breached Section (Freedom of speech, expression and publication) 17(2)(c)(i) and Section 26(3)(a) of the 2013 Constitution which states a person amongst other things should not be discriminated against. In a long-winded statement on Friday 20th November, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum claimed he was imitating my voice and pose in the style of fictional Star Wars villainous character Darth Vader. Nothing can be further from the truth. The AG as the State’s Chief Legal Advisor should know that Parliament is not a drama theatre. It is the highest court of the land. Mimicry, drama and theatrics are best suited for a drama and arts platform as Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is only too aware and not the floor of Parliament. I challenge Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to prove that my voice and character are similar to that of Darth Vader. I also challenge him to prove that Darth Vader poses like a monkey or ape in any if his characters, like he did in Parliament. I also challenge him to prove that I have ever posed like he did in Parliament. "
SODELPA Opposition Whip, Ratu Isoa Tikoca today demanded that Aiyaz Sayed-Khjaiyum must step down as a Member of Parliament following unbecoming acts tantamount to racial taunts in Parliament in his capacity as the Chief Legal Advisor to Government and Acting Prime Minister.
The Attorney General has ridiculed Government’s so-called mantra of “We are all Fijians”. His suitability to be an elected representative of the people and to act as PM has been put to shame.
The Attorney General and Minister for Finance is sinking deeper into the quagmire with the flimsy and defenceless explanation of his mimicry and monkey-pose in Parliament on Wednesday 18th November. This was a racial slur against me and by implication the indigenous Fijian community for which I am also an elected representative of. It is particularly heinous as the disgusting stunt was a rejoinder to his comment that "Parliament would be better off without me" - insulting even more, the voters who put me there.
He has breached Section 62(4)(d) of the Parliamentary Standing Orders which prohibits words that are likely to promote or provoke feelings of ill-will or hostility between communities or ethnic groups within Fiji.
More seriously, he has breached Section (Freedom of speech, expression and publication) 17(2)(c)(i) and Section 26(3)(a) of the 2013 Constitution which states a person amongst other things should not be discriminated against.
In a long-winded statement on Friday 20th November, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum claimed he was imitating my voice and pose in the style of fictional Star Wars villainous character Darth Vader.
Nothing can be further from the truth. The AG as the State’s Chief Legal Advisor should know that Parliament is not a drama theatre. It is the highest court of the land. Mimicry, drama and theatrics are best suited for a drama and arts platform as Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is only too aware and not the floor of Parliament.
I challenge Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to prove that my voice and character are similar to that of Darth Vader. I also challenge him to prove that Darth Vader poses like a monkey or ape in any if his characters, like he did in Parliament. I also challenge him to prove that I have ever posed like he did in Parliament.
I can unequivocally guarantee that my challenge will remain unanswered.
In his statement Sayed-Khaiyum referred the people of Fiji to the full video clip at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt-Zl4JDwek. Anyone viewing the clip will concur with what I am saying. This was not a light-hearted comment. His expression was serious, his body language was most aggressive and patronising and he made sounds and posed like a monkey or ape just before he sat down. This is the inescapable truth.
Khaiyum attempts to downplay the whole saga which he knows full well was a colossal PR failure by questioning why I did not raise this matter immediately after his obscene and racial slur. I can clarify now that the Parliament was in Committee debating the Heads of the Budget. The Speaker’s powers were curtailed as she left the Speaker’s Chair and assumed the role of a Chairperson. That is why there were no Points of Order.
Sayed-Khaiyum himself stood up and pointed this out when a Member of the Opposition raised a Point of Order during saying this was a Committee so no point of order can be raised.
Therefore Friday (20th November) was the first opportunity after the conclusion of the Budget process, available to me to raise this issue.
No amount of fluffy explanation's can change the fact that Sayed-Khaiyum’s actions were a racist slur against me and the indigenous community, that we find deeply offensive. We are certainly not finding anything light-hearted about his antics.
That is why he must step down and it is as fundamental as that.
The Attorney General has ridiculed Government’s so-called mantra of “We are all Fijians”. His suitability to be an elected representative of the people and to act as PM has been put to shame.
The Attorney General and Minister for Finance is sinking deeper into the quagmire with the flimsy and defenceless explanation of his mimicry and monkey-pose in Parliament on Wednesday 18th November. This was a racial slur against me and by implication the indigenous Fijian community for which I am also an elected representative of. It is particularly heinous as the disgusting stunt was a rejoinder to his comment that "Parliament would be better off without me" - insulting even more, the voters who put me there.
He has breached Section 62(4)(d) of the Parliamentary Standing Orders which prohibits words that are likely to promote or provoke feelings of ill-will or hostility between communities or ethnic groups within Fiji.
More seriously, he has breached Section (Freedom of speech, expression and publication) 17(2)(c)(i) and Section 26(3)(a) of the 2013 Constitution which states a person amongst other things should not be discriminated against.
In a long-winded statement on Friday 20th November, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum claimed he was imitating my voice and pose in the style of fictional Star Wars villainous character Darth Vader.
Nothing can be further from the truth. The AG as the State’s Chief Legal Advisor should know that Parliament is not a drama theatre. It is the highest court of the land. Mimicry, drama and theatrics are best suited for a drama and arts platform as Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is only too aware and not the floor of Parliament.
I challenge Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to prove that my voice and character are similar to that of Darth Vader. I also challenge him to prove that Darth Vader poses like a monkey or ape in any if his characters, like he did in Parliament. I also challenge him to prove that I have ever posed like he did in Parliament.
I can unequivocally guarantee that my challenge will remain unanswered.
In his statement Sayed-Khaiyum referred the people of Fiji to the full video clip at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt-Zl4JDwek. Anyone viewing the clip will concur with what I am saying. This was not a light-hearted comment. His expression was serious, his body language was most aggressive and patronising and he made sounds and posed like a monkey or ape just before he sat down. This is the inescapable truth.
Khaiyum attempts to downplay the whole saga which he knows full well was a colossal PR failure by questioning why I did not raise this matter immediately after his obscene and racial slur. I can clarify now that the Parliament was in Committee debating the Heads of the Budget. The Speaker’s powers were curtailed as she left the Speaker’s Chair and assumed the role of a Chairperson. That is why there were no Points of Order.
Sayed-Khaiyum himself stood up and pointed this out when a Member of the Opposition raised a Point of Order during saying this was a Committee so no point of order can be raised.
Therefore Friday (20th November) was the first opportunity after the conclusion of the Budget process, available to me to raise this issue.
No amount of fluffy explanation's can change the fact that Sayed-Khaiyum’s actions were a racist slur against me and the indigenous community, that we find deeply offensive. We are certainly not finding anything light-hearted about his antics.
That is why he must step down and it is as fundamental as that.
“…..o iko na luveni kailoma sega na kemu qele” - Khaiyum had stripped Fiji First candidate Nemani Bainivalu of the electoral ticket after Bainivalu abused and assaulted a "kai loma" audience member and, by extension, Frank Bainimarama and his family! Bainimarama has also been heard around camp claiming that he is a kai-loma [Part-European] and not a native Fijian
 |  |
 | |
