Kulang joins forces with O’Neill to survive

 TOBIAS Kulang joined the People’s Progress Party (PPP) to be in Peter O’Neill’s government. 

He is the parliamentary leader of PNG Constitutional Development Party  as well as a strong Opposition  stalwart. 

I will make some comments and observations.

First, the PPP  is  one  of  the most stable and robust national political institutions. This is the only political party in PNG political history that remains intact and stable ever since it was formed by Julius Chan.

The PPP never melted like ice and regrouped at government formations such  as  Michael Somare’s Pangu Party, National Alliance or Don Polye’s THE party. 

Secondly, I commend Kulang for joining PPP. 

However, his allegiance does not change  his  heart  and  mind  and  that of  the  principles of the PNG Constitutional DevelopmentPparty.  

He was forced to do what he did to survive the political environment,  you ought to be in government to access finances and inducements. 

He  had  to do this because the ruling  government is  using  bullying  tactics to deprive constitutional grants and finances to Oopposition MPs.  

Kulang had to flow with the river than swim against it. 

Ruling governments must not play dirty politics because a government without  an  effective  Opposition horse power goes unchecked that defeats  the principles of transparency and accountability. 

Thirdly, the government must review the Cabinet lineup with the view to give another ministry to Chimbu. 

The Simbus under the banner of “eastern bloc” in the last government gave O’Neill the PM’s seat. 

They worked the bolts and nuts with Belden Namah  to  topple the lawful Somare government. 

Finally, I do not support the idea of   a  grand  coalition  government without an effective opposition. 

This is unhealthy for our young nation. An effective Oopposition is a hallmark of a healthy and a vibrant democracy. 

The government has just passed a record K15 billion budget and every year is a record budget. 

However, we have not seen any record  development  that  these record budgets have produced. 

The record budgets are not used to kill corruption but instead used to manufacture and create conglomerates of corruption webs, building and stacking  up personal accounts of individuals in this country.

Yapi Akore, Via email