Pala: Issue of papers was in nation’s interest

 ATTORNEY-General Ano Pala says he pushed for controversial Indonesia businessman Tjoko Tjandra to become a citizen of Papua New Guinea because it was “in the interests of this nation”.

He said that in Parliament yesterday in response to a series of questions from Rai Coast MP James Gau in relation to Tjandra, who is wanted by Indonesia on a number of charges.

Gau asked Pala to disclose his personal business interests with Tjandra, why he did not seek approval of the Parliamentary Citizenship Committee before granting him citizenship in “record time” and if Tjandra had businesses that PNG could benefit from in a “transparent manner”.

Pala said the issue of Tjandra being granted citizenship had been generating a lot of debate in the country.

“What is my interest?” he said.

“Like all of us on this floor of Parliament, under the Leadership Code, our interests are declared at the Ombudsman Commission.

“If you want to find that out, you can go and check with the Ombudsman Commission.

“Everything I own in this country and outside of this country is declared at the Ombudsman Commission. My interest, if the public wants to know, is in the interests of this nation.”

In relation to why he was issued the citizenship, Pala said he issued citizenship after seeking the advice of the citizenship committee.

“I granted the citizenship on the basis of their advice,” he said.

“These are the facts and the Opposition knows it very well.

“I followed all the established procedures under our laws before I awarded the citizenship.”

In relation to what Tjandra was doing in the country, Pala said: “It’s public knowledge.”