Ketan Lal Ignores Sayed-Khaiyum's Plea to Donate to Charity
FIJI NEWS
On December 8, 2024, former Attorney General and FijiFirst General Secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum made a public plea to Members of Parliament who did not vote against what he described as the “morally and ethically corrupt salary increase” to donate the increased amount to charity.
Since then, Ketan Lal, closely aligned with the new FijiansFirst party, has earned over FJ$100,000 (at least) of your taxpayer money, including salary and allowances, and has reportedly yet to donate a single cent to charity.
What’s worse? The Duavata News research team has found that Ketan Lal, the MP in question, will have earned hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money by the time his term ends for essentially doing nothing, except generating Facebook content and enjoying free trips abroad to events such as COP (Conference of the Parties).
The MP has even attempt to speak against the salary increase despite not voting to stop it, and continues to make Facebook posts calling out government wastage while being one of the sources of wastage himself, posts which have led many to label him as a hypocrite.
Shockingly, on June 13, 2023, Ketan Lal proudly stated:
"I will continue to serve FijiFirst, upholding its values and principles. I joined this party because of Joasia Voreqe Bainimarama's vision for Fiji, and I remain committed to that vision. I cannot betray my party, our former leader, or the aspirations we hold for our nation. FijiFirst has long championed core values such as integrity, diversity, meritocracy, and self-reliance. These principles have guided our efforts over the years and remain crucial today."
However, his actions have shown that he has acted in complete contradiction to Bainimarama and FijiFirst principles. Lal has failed to vote against the pay rise, despite Bainimarama reportedly instructing all former FijiFirst MPs to do so. Even more troubling, he has ignored Sayed-Khaiyum’s call to donate the increased salary to charity, further undermining the moral stance that the former AG urged MPs to take.
Sayed-Khaiyum's comments were blunt: "All those MPS who voted against the morally and ethically unacceptable pay rise and increase in benefits for themselves, or abstained from the vote, should not benefit from the pay rise that all the others voted for. If they were genuine in their opposition or abstention, they should have by now (or can still) donated the money to a worthy charitable organisation or set up a trust to pool their funds together."
Minister for Climate Change Mosese Bulitavu earlier called out Ketan Lal's behaviour, labelling him a hypocrite, which, if looking at all facts, is accurate.
The minister specifically called out Lal's Facebook posts about government wastage when he himself was eating taxpayer dollars for essentially doing nothing.
Sayed-Khaiyum said, "If they don't, then they are just as bad, if not worse, than those who openly and ashamedly voted for the pay rise and increase in benefits for themselves while ordinary Fijians were and are facing increasingly daily uphill challenges."
His comments, while directed at several MPS, apply to Lal, who is reportedly a core member of the new FijiansFirst party formed by supporters of the former FijiFirst party.
This is already a bad start for the new party, which has aspirations to form the next government, showing a lack of commitment to the values it claims to uphold.
Last year, Parliament voted to increase their salaries:
Members of Parliament (MPS): Salary increased from FJ$50,000 to FJ$95,000 per annum.
Ministers: Salary increased from FJ$160,000–FJ$185,000 to a standardised rate of FJ$200,000 per annum.
Assistant Ministers: Salary increased from FJ$90,000 to FJ$120,000 per annum.
Speaker of Parliament: Salary increased from FJ$150,000 to FJ$220,000 per annum.
Leader of the Opposition: Salary increased from FJ$120,000 to FJ$200,000 per annum.
In addition to the increased salary, Fijian Members of Parliament (MPS) have been granted several other benefits, including:
Increased Salary: MPS' base salary has been raised to FJ$95,000 per annum, up from FJ$50,000, representing a 90% increase.
Increased Travel Allowance: MPS are entitled to business class travel for official overseas meetings, with travel insurance provided.
Insurance Coverage: MPS receives life insurance with a maximum basic sum insured of FJ$100,000. They may continue with the insurance premiums after the Parliament dissolves, at their own cost.
High-Tech Phones and Laptops: MPS are issued with IT gadgets/devices, including high-tech phones and laptops, which they can retain when Parliament dissolves.
Duty-Free Car Import: MPS are entitled to the tax and duty-free purchase of one vehicle per term of Parliament.
