THE family of Malaita Provincial Premier Daniel Suidani, who is currently seeking medical treatment in Taiwan, is calling on the media to show some respect and stop politicizing Mr. Suidani’s story.
Members of the premier’s family, who have been following stories published about the premier in the media lately, said the way certain journalists politicized and sensationalized Mr. Suidani’s story is beyond what they can take.
A spokesperson for the family John Kwakwae said the family focus is for the premier’s recovery.
“We live with the premier and his sickness is no secret to us,” Mr. Kwakwae said.
“We are the ones who were there for him beside his sickbed at Kiluúfi Hospital when he was admitted there.
“His sickness is beyond what Kiluúfi Hospital can offer, so he moved to the National Referral Hospital in Honiara hoping to be cured there and return home.
“From the National Referral Hospital, he was referred to travel overseas to seek further medical attention.
“We don’t know if our family members will return home alive and well.
“It is a sensitive issue for us the immediate family members of the premier.”
Mr. Kwakwae said there is already medical proof of Mr. Suidani’s illness and to continue attacking the premier who is on his sickbed “is just strange and lacks respect”.
“To see certain journalists continuing to politicize and sensationalize the premier’s story who is seeking medical assistance overseas is just too painful for us as a family.
“In our culture, when someone is sick, no one should talk about it, let alone twisting stories which aren’t true about him in the media when he is fighting for his life on a sickbed,” the concerned relative said.
He warned that they will soon seek compensation from journalists who created false stories about the premier in the media.
Mr. Kwakwae said the negative publication about the sick premier has also attracted negative comments on social media with some commentators wishing for the premier to die which did not go down well with the premier’s family.
“There is nothing to hide and all we want now is for the premier to heal and recover to continue to serve his people of Malaita,” Mr. Kwakwae said.
By WILSON SAENI
Auki News Bureau
