21 Oct 2014

Fiji MP warns MIDA credibility at stake

7:27 am on 21 October 2014

A Fiji MP has warned that the credibility of the country's media authority is at stake.

This week the chairman of the Media Industry Development Authority, Ashwin Raj, defended himself for not speaking out on a breach of the electoral decree on the day before the election.

The Fiji Broadcasting Corporation featured an advertisement for the FijiFirst party on its website, despite a three-day media blackout, with heavy penalties for breaches.

Earlier this year Mr Raj castigated Fiji TV for airing so-called hate speech, but has made no public statement on the FBC breach.

The President of the National Federation Party, Tupou Draunidalo, says a lack of consistency will harm the media authority.

"The credibility of him and his organisation depends really on his conduct. If he is seen to be not fair to different parties then he is hurting himself really, and his organisation."

The President of the National Federation Party, Tupou Draunidalo.