Prime Minister James Marape, right, says the claims by Allan Bird are "unfounded". Photo: RNZ Pacific
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has called on East Sepik Provincial MP Allan Bird to provide proof for his claims that there have been threats to his life.
Bird claims his phones have been tapped, and state institutions have been instructed to try to find anything illegal on him and charge and arrest him.
However, Marape has questioned if Bird is telling the truth, who the actual people were who told him these things.
In a statement on Monday, the prime minister said Bird continues to make "unfounded allegations against the government".
He said as head of the government, they do not take lightly leaders like Bird, who make what Marape called false accusations to get public sympathy and support.
"If he is telling the truth, who are the apparatus of State who have been put on full alert to hunt down Bird - who describes himself as the 'most dangerous criminal in PNG?"
"This is not a game, but an attack on integrity of the functionality of the Executive arm of Government," he said.
"We are not a dictatorship but a nation of rules and order. This Pangu Pati-led Government has set up the Independent Commission Against Corruption, and has passed the Whistle Blowers Act, so Bird has all these avenues to formally lodge his complaints."
RNZ Pacific has contacted the PNG police for comment.
