Andrew Mald
Encyclopedia
Andrew Mald is a Papua New Guinea
n politician.
He was first elected to the National Parliament
in the 2007 general election
, as independent
MP for the Moresby North East Open
constituency in the National Capital District, though he later joined the National Alliance Party
, and sat as a government backbencher
. Nonetheless, according to an editorial in the Post Courier, he was an "outspoken critic of the Government and in particular the National Capital District Commission (NCDC). The issues he [...] raised on the floor of Parliament and in the media [...] impressed a lot of people in the city, and many viewed him as someone who has always had the interests of his voters at heart and concern for the city and its inhabitants".
In July 2010, he and five other party members defected briefly to the Opposition, in a failed attempt to bring down the government. Within a few days, they pledged their support for the government once more, and were accepted back.
At the start of August 2011, he was again among several government MPs to join the Opposition. This time, a successful parliamentary motion of no confidence
brought down the government of Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal
(standing in for Sir Michael Somare
while the latter was hospitalised for a serious heart condition), and Peter O'Neill
became Prime Minister. O'Neill appointed Mald as his Minister for Community Development, Religion, and Family Affairs. He thus succeeded Dame Carol Kidu
, who had held those portfolios since 2002. He promised to support a bill she had sponsored, which would lead to the creation of reserved seats for women in Parliament; she herself was, at that time, the only woman MP.
A few days after taking office, and in response to an apparently alcohol-fuelled violent clash between Chimbu
and Tari
people in Port Moresby
, in which one person died, Mald called for "a total ban on liquor sales" in the capital, to last at least ten months in the lead up to the 2012 general election. The Post Courier published an editorial in support of the proposal, stating: "[W]e support the call by Mald that a ban is necessary in the settlements of Port Moresby. Though the ban is only temporary, 10 months is enough time for the NCDC to move decisively to clamp down on liquor abuse and its associated problems that are so widespread throughout the city, not only in settlements but in homes of educated elites and the disciplinary forces. [...] While we understand the argument that the liquor business generates taxes, jobs and profits, must this be done at the expense of peace, order and unity? No, we think not."
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
n politician.
He was first elected to the National Parliament
National Parliament of Papua New Guinea
The National Parliament of Papua New Guinea is the unicameral national legislature in Papua New Guinea. It was first created in 1964 as the House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea, but gained its current name with the granting of independence in 1975....
in the 2007 general election
Papua New Guinean general election, 2007
General elections were held in Papua New Guinea from 30 June 2007 to 14 July 2007.For the first time, the election did not use first past the post , but rather Limited Preferential Voting, in which voters number...
, as independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
MP for the Moresby North East Open
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
constituency in the National Capital District, though he later joined the National Alliance Party
National Alliance Party (Papua New Guinea)
The National Alliance Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea. It was founded in 1995 by Bernard Narokobi, Moi Avei, Bart Philemon and Masket Iangalio, who invited Sir Michael Somare to lead them to the 1997 elections after he had been sacked as leader of the Pangu Party.National Alliance...
, and sat as a government backbencher
Backbencher
In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition...
. Nonetheless, according to an editorial in the Post Courier, he was an "outspoken critic of the Government and in particular the National Capital District Commission (NCDC). The issues he [...] raised on the floor of Parliament and in the media [...] impressed a lot of people in the city, and many viewed him as someone who has always had the interests of his voters at heart and concern for the city and its inhabitants".
In July 2010, he and five other party members defected briefly to the Opposition, in a failed attempt to bring down the government. Within a few days, they pledged their support for the government once more, and were accepted back.
At the start of August 2011, he was again among several government MPs to join the Opposition. This time, a successful parliamentary motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
brought down the government of Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal
Sam Abal
Samuel Tei "Sam" Abal is a Papua New Guinean politician. Abal, who previously served as Foreign Minister from August 2007 to December 2010, became the Deputy Prime Minister of the country in a cabinet reshuffle by Michael Somare on 7 December 2010...
(standing in for Sir Michael Somare
Michael Somare
Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF, KStJ, MP was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2011; he had previously been Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare's first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he then...
while the latter was hospitalised for a serious heart condition), and Peter O'Neill
Peter O'Neill
Peter Charles Paire O'Neill, CMG is the current Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. He is the leader of the People's National Congress and represents the constituency of Ialibu-Pangia.-Biography:...
became Prime Minister. O'Neill appointed Mald as his Minister for Community Development, Religion, and Family Affairs. He thus succeeded Dame Carol Kidu
Carol Kidu
Dame Carol Kidu, Lady Kidu, DBE is an Australian-born Papua New Guinean politician. She is the only current female member of Parliament, and served as Minister for Community Development under Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare from 2002 to 2011...
, who had held those portfolios since 2002. He promised to support a bill she had sponsored, which would lead to the creation of reserved seats for women in Parliament; she herself was, at that time, the only woman MP.
A few days after taking office, and in response to an apparently alcohol-fuelled violent clash between Chimbu
Kuman language (New Guinea)
Kuman is a language of Simbu Province, Papua New Guinea. , it was spoken by about 80,000 people, 10,000 of which were monolinguals. In 2000 the number of speakers increased to 115,000.-References:...
and Tari
Tari, Papua New Guinea
Tari Is the centre of Huli country in the Southern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea. It is the second largest settlement in the province, and accessible by road from Mendi.-Aviation Accidents:...
people in Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
, in which one person died, Mald called for "a total ban on liquor sales" in the capital, to last at least ten months in the lead up to the 2012 general election. The Post Courier published an editorial in support of the proposal, stating: "[W]e support the call by Mald that a ban is necessary in the settlements of Port Moresby. Though the ban is only temporary, 10 months is enough time for the NCDC to move decisively to clamp down on liquor abuse and its associated problems that are so widespread throughout the city, not only in settlements but in homes of educated elites and the disciplinary forces. [...] While we understand the argument that the liquor business generates taxes, jobs and profits, must this be done at the expense of peace, order and unity? No, we think not."