Faumuina Asi Pauli Wayne Fong
Faumuina Asi Pauli Wayne Fong (born June 1959)[1] is a Samoan politician and member of the Samoan Parliament. He was first elected to the Fono in the 2016 Samoan general election.
Faumuina Fong | |
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Member of the Samoan Parliament for Urban West | |
Assumed office 4 March 2016 | |
Personal details | |
Born | June 1959 |
Political party | Human Rights Protection Party Independent |
In March 2017 Fong called for a law change to allow Samoans to gamble in casinos.[2] In October he criticised "dirty politics" within the Human Rights Protection Party, alleging that factions were moving against Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi while he was in hospital in New Zealand.[3] In December he called for a relaxation of border controls with American Samoa.[4] In 2018 he opposed the government's Customary Land Alienation Bill.[5] In June 2019 Fong criticised the government's budget, claiming it was "unbalanced".[6]
In May 2020 Fong was asked to quit the Human Rights Protection Party by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi over his opposition to Tuila'epa's proposed constitutional reforms.[7][8] In July 2020 he was sacked from the party.[9] He remained in parliament as an independent.[10]
In September 2020 Fong pledged his loyalty to former Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa following her resignation, and promised to follow whichever party she joined in the 2021 election.[11] On 17 October Fong registered to run as a candidate for the F.A.S.T. party in the 2021 election.[12] As a result his seat was declared vacant under anti-party-hopping provisions.[13][14] On 14 December 2020 the decision was declared unlawful and invalid by the Supreme Court of Samoa.[15][16]
References
- Adel Fruean (16 June 2019). "M.P. Faumuina celebrates 60th birthday". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- "Samoa MP calls on govt to allow locals to casinos". RNZ. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu (14 October 2017). "Member hits out at dirty H.R.P.P. politics". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- "Call for freer border between Samoas". RNZ. 27 December 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- "Heated debate in Samoa's Parliament over land bill". RNZ. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- "Samoan backbencher alleges Budget is unbalanced". RNZ. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- "Samoa PM speaks out regarding dissenting MP". RNZ. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (18 May 2020). "P.M. told me to resign, Faumuina confirms". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- "Another dissenting Samoa MP sacked". RNZ. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (8 July 2020). "M.P. Faumuina happy with removal from H.R.P.P." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (12 September 2020). "M.P. Faumuina pledges loyalty to Fiame". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- "Independent MP Leatinu'u Wayne Fong chooses the FAST Flag". Talamua. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- "Samoa Speaker ousts two independent MPs". RNZ. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (18 November 2020). "Speaker officially declares seats vacant". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (14 December 2020). "Olo and Faumuina delighted, ready for Parliament return". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- Mata'afa Keni Lesa (15 December 2020). "Let's embrace spirit of Christmas, Speaker welcomes Olo and Faumuina". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.