Former Prime Minister and Human Rights Protection (H.R.P.P.) leader Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi was admitted at the national hospital on Thursday night and has been released.

The H.R.P.P. Secretary and M.P. Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi confirmed when contacted by the Samoa Observer that the veteran politician was taken to the hospital on Thursday evening but has recovered.

"I think it was just the common flu," Leala said while adding it was nothing serious. "But he is okay now."

Tuilaepa was admitted at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital (T.T.M.) at Moto'otua.

He held a weekly press conference with the media on Thursday afternoon before he was taken to the hospital in the evening. 

Throughout the holiday and festive season, Tuilaepa did not rest as he was always at the H.R.P.P. Headquarters and had never missed his weekly meetings with the media at his office. 

Now 76 years of age, the politician told the media over a week ago that he "is a workaholic” and did not want to rest. 

"I never want to rest," Tuilaepa said. "There's so much work to do and I always spend time reading and thinking about ways to improve our service and what we can do for the people. "That's why you see that even while the Government ministries are enjoying a two weeks holiday, I am still at work because I know there's work to be done."

He was referring to the two weeks’ paid holiday for thousands of public servants which was approved by the Cabinet last month.

Tuilaepa said that it was the first time ever that public servants in Samoa were given a two weeks holiday during the festive season.

The new changes to the public servants’ working roster over the Christmas and new year’s holiday means they won’t return to work until 10 January 2022. A Cabinet Directive confirmed that the urgent changes were approved by the Government’s main policy decision-making body this week. 

The Minister of Public Enterprises, Leatinuu Wayne Sooialo, confirmed the two week holiday as part of commission holidays. 

According to the Directive, the Cabinet has generously agreed to pay essential workers overtime on the commission holidays while they continue to serve the general public. Essential workers, including those in public health services, such as Quarantine, Customs, Immigration, Meteorology office, Ministry of Finance, the national 2AP radio station amongst other offices will benefit from the extended leave.