Former deputy PM Sam Abal loses Wabag seat
23 July 2012
RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL
ANOTHER PROMINENT politician in Papua New Guinea has lost his seat.
Former deputy prime minister Sam Abal has been defeated in Wabag by fellow independent, Robert Ganim.
Mr Abal, a loyal supporter of Sir Michael Somare, was made acting prime minister in April last year after Sir Michael was forced to stand aside while he faced a leadership tribunal investigation.
He remained in the role for several months while Sir Michael sought medical treatment in Singapore.
Mr Abal later became the deputy opposition leader and was holding that position when the election began.
In June, he announced he was standing as an independent after declaring he was disenchanted with the political party system.
At the weekend, veteran cabinet minister Bart Philemon was voted out in his Lae Open seat.
He lost to Loujaya Toni, the second woman to take a seat in this poll and just the sixth woman ever voted into the PNG parliament.
59 of the 111 seats have now been declared.
I really don't know Mr Abal but I did hear that he came down to Cairns for his dentistry work.
I fear that any PNG politician who decides to leave the country for the sake of his health is not setting a good example.
Posted by: Mrs Barbara Short | 24 July 2012 at 07:27 AM
Sam Abal was impotent in the kitchen cabinet anyway and most probably Polye was propping him up by the armpits.
Posted by: John Wali | 24 July 2012 at 12:15 AM