The Chairman of the Whole House Committee, Lord Tu’ilakepa, faced criticism from the government for remarks perceived as disrespectful, biased, and malevolent after allegedly suggesting that Acting Prime Minister Fusimālohi should “wear women’s clothing” in the House.
The exchange in Parliament yesterday followed intense debates over the government’s energy roadmap and the revelation that there had been no previous plan to forecast or provide foresight for one of the government’s most important resources.
Fusimalohi addressed the roadmap and feedback from the Speaker of the House, Lord Fakafanua, using traditional lea heliaki (figures of speech) to illustrate his points.
Comparing Australian energy support to an “arranged marriage” where Tonga had yet to provide the “bridegroom,” and describing electricity pricing inconsistencies in Tongan as ngatupetupe (shaky), his heliaki drew a sharp rebuke from the Chair.
House Erupts Over Dress Comment
Interrupting Fusimalohi, Tu‘ilakepa criticised his rhetorical style, accusing him of ‘changing things too much in the House’ (“lahi aupito ho‘o fulihi ‘etau me‘a he fale‘ ni”).
The Chair then escalated his remarks, stating he had considered ordering Fusimālohi to stop wearing coats to the House and wear women’s clothing instead. He said in Tongan: “Toe si’i pea u tu’utu’uni ke ‘oua te ke toe kote mai ka ke kofu fakafefine mai ki he fale ni.” The comment prompted immediate backlash.
Minister of Police Paula Piveni Piukala swiftly intervened, urging Tu’ilakepa to hide what was in his heart – (“fakapulipuli’i hifo ho loto”), implying the Chair harboured malice toward the government bench.
Piukala argued the Chair’s language crossed into personal insult, telling Tu’ilakepa in Tongan – ‘Oku ‘ata ki tu’a ho’o ‘ai ke ke siosio lalo’i ‘a e palēmia’. This translates into English as – The public may take it as if you were belittling the Acting Prime Minister.
Piukala reminded Tu’ilakepa of his neutral role, urging him to stop lecturing MPs and simply moderate debates.
Denial of Bias Claims
Tu’ilakepa ordered Piukala to stop and warned that if he had to issue a third warning, he would eject him from the House.
The Chair apologised for what he had said about two of the MPs, but he did not identify them.
He told them to speak nicely (“me’a lelei mu’a”).
He also asked one of them to refrain from speaking in English.
He apparently told Fusimālohi to stop using what he had described as the kind of language they used to speak in their youth, in Parliament.
“‘Oku ‘ikai ke u filifilimānako au. Ke mea’i lelei pe,” he said, which is in English, I am not showing favouritism. He continued in Tongan saying – You knew that well.
“‘Oku ‘ikai pe ha’aku vā ‘aku ia mo e feitu’u’na”, he said, which translates as, I have no problem with you.
He argued that the Minister of Police misrepresented his actions as malicious, even though they were not.
He reminded them of the requirement for decorum in the House.
