MP switches spur rule debate in parliament

 MADANG Governor Jim Kas has urged Parliament to uphold the Organic Law on Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates.

He also asked the house to legislate to control the number of political parties in PNG. 

Speaking during the grievance debate last Friday, Kas said Parliament should either forget the organic law or repeal it to control the movement of MPs and political parties.

He added that many MPs and political parties did not adhere to certain provisions of the organic law that were relevant following a Supreme Court decision to annul certain provisions.

“Many members of parliament have been abusing the law to suit their needs and move around from party to party,”  Opposition member Kas said.

“If we want to move then let’s comply with the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates or do away with it and we institute a new and revised the law.”

Kas also said that there were too many political parties.

“There are more than 100 political parties so far since independence and therefore we need to control it,” he said. 

“We need to strengthen the political partiesand reduce the number to 15 or 20 parties.”