The Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) leader has paid tribute to one of its senior members and the Vaimauga No. 3 M.P. Tapunuu Papalii Niko Lee Hang.

Tapunuu passed away on Tuesday morning at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole national hospital at Moto’otua. He had just returned from New Zealand on Monday this week from his medical checks. 

The H.R.P.P. leader and former prime minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi in a special announcement on Tuesday afternoon expressed his condolences to the family of Tapunuu. 

Tuilaepa said he recently met with Tapunuu in New Zealand some three weeks ago, while he was attending the World Rugby Union meeting and the M.P. was there for medical checks. 

He said he met with the family of the M.P. on Tuesday upon receiving the sad news. 

In remembering the former cabinet minister, the suspended leader said Tapunuu looked after two major Government Ministries in the previous parliamentary term because he was a trusted person. 

He added even his speeches inside the parliament reflected the kind of person he was – a very knowledgeable person who was curious. 

The former cabinet minister first entered the Legislative Assembly in 2001 under the Individual Voters seat and had been re-elected into the House with his current one being his fifth consecutive term in office. 

An accountant by profession and former Public Trustee from 1997 to 2001, Tapunuu was a former minister of finance in 2006 and the minister of works transport and infrastructure in the 2016-2021 parliamentary term. 

He was not given a cabinet minister portfolio in 2006 and became a backbencher who stood up against corruption during the term his political party dominated parliament. 

He was the voice against corruption between the 2006-2011 parliamentary term and chaired the Officers of Parliament Committee that highlighted collusion and corrupt practices in the Government. The findings led to the resignation of the former minister of finance, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga from his portfolio. 

Tapunuu, who also holds the title of Papalii, had educational qualifications from the University of New England in Australia and Waikato University in New Zealand.

Prior to being elected an M.P. he worked in the public sector for more than 30 years. This included stints at S.L.A.C and the Public Trust Office as the Public Trustee.

He is survived by his wife Doris Lee Hang and four children.