The leader of Papua New Guinea's Pangu Pati has defended his party's decision to join the government of Peter O'Neill .
Sam Basil spoke out after more signs of division in the country's oldest political party.
Papua New Guinea deputy opposition leader Sam Basil, the MP for Bulolo. Photo: Supplied
Sam Basil shocked the country with his decision to join the government, shortly after last year's general election when he and Pangu campaigned strongly on a bid to remove Mr O'Neill from power.
Mr Basil said his party made the right move for advancing its interests and had now been rewarded with an extra ministry.
He argued it was better to be in Government than in Opposition.
But the Bulolo MP this week found himself on the wrong side of the Pangu Pati executive who said Mr Basil had been removed from the party for misconduct.
He denied this was the case, but the growing split between the party's MPs and its executive reflects how unpopular Pangu's move to government remained among its grassroots supporters.