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
Member of the Samoan Parliament
for Urban West
Assumed office
4 March 2016
Personal details
BornJune 1959
Political partyHuman 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
  1. Adel Fruean (16 June 2019). "M.P. Faumuina celebrates 60th birthday". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  2. "Samoa MP calls on govt to allow locals to casinos". RNZ. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  3. Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu (14 October 2017). "Member hits out at dirty H.R.P.P. politics". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  4. "Call for freer border between Samoas". RNZ. 27 December 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  5. "Heated debate in Samoa's Parliament over land bill". RNZ. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  6. "Samoan backbencher alleges Budget is unbalanced". RNZ. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  7. "Samoa PM speaks out regarding dissenting MP". RNZ. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  8. Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (18 May 2020). "P.M. told me to resign, Faumuina confirms". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  9. "Another dissenting Samoa MP sacked". RNZ. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  10. 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.
  11. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (12 September 2020). "M.P. Faumuina pledges loyalty to Fiame". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  12. "Independent MP Leatinu'u Wayne Fong chooses the FAST Flag". Talamua. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  13. "Samoa Speaker ousts two independent MPs". RNZ. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  14. Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (18 November 2020). "Speaker officially declares seats vacant". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  15. Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (14 December 2020). "Olo and Faumuina delighted, ready for Parliament return". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  16. Mata'afa Keni Lesa (15 December 2020). "Let's embrace spirit of Christmas, Speaker welcomes Olo and Faumuina". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2020.


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