One of the latest MPs to defect to Papua New Guinea's government says he had no choice because securing central public funds allocated to his people depended on it.
The newspaper, The National, reports that the Madang Governor Jim Kas has left the opposition PNG Party to join the National Alliance, which is part of the ruling coalition.
The Peter O'Neill-led government has the support of more than 90 percent of the 111 MPs while the opposition has just two MPs.
Mr Kas says a shortfall in Madang's provincial budget by nearly six million US dollars and the unresolved issue of resettling Manam Islanders displaced by volcanic eruptions a decade ago forced him to cross the floor.
The Governor says the national government was delaying the approval of the Manam Restoration Act, which would allow those living in care centres to be resettled.
Mr Kas also says Madang was not receiving its allocated public funds on time, and many planned projects had been delayed.
The front facade of Papua New Guinea's parliament featuring recently removed anthropomorphic carved heads on the front lintel. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
The Registrar of Political Parties and Candidates, Alphonse Gelu, has expressed concern at the steady stream of defections to government.
He says the government is able to lure opposition MPs due to the perception that disbursal of public funds for their districts depends on it.
"And that is not a type of practice, a conventional practice that we want to encourage in a parliamentary democracy, because as members of parliament by law they are all entitled to any funding that is available. You don't have to be in government. And I think, you know, a government must to an extent put a stop to this perception. If we are really serious about being a vibrant, parliamentary democracy, we must change this practice."
Meanwhile, the deputy opposition leader, Sam Basil, has signalled that he is leaving the PNG Party to join the Pangu Pati.
