Update 4.15 - Government reacts

The Nationalist Party will commit itself to implement its good governance proposals within fixed time frames, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil pledged this morning.

Interviewed on Radio 101, Dr Busuttil said the proposals, unveiled last December, were being revised in the wake of feedback received and a final set of guidelines would be issued by the end of the year.

“I will also be committing myself to implement these proposals within a deadline if the PN is elected to government,” he said.

Dr Busuttil made this announcement when asked about the party’s strategy to combat corruption.

He said it was “shocking and scandalous” that  the same financial consultant who opened Panama companies for Minister Konrad Mizzi and the Prime Minister’s top aide Keith Schembr, had done the same for the Chinese person (albeit in the BVI) involved in the sale of the BWSC plant.

“The least the government should have done was order an inquiry and suspend all involved,” he said.

Commenting on the sum raised in last Thursday’s telethon on Net Television, he said this conveyed the message to the government that the Panama Papers scandal was not a closed chapter.

In any other EU member state, Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri would have lost their job and the Prime Minister would have shouldered responsibility.

“Why is Malta different than the UK?” he asked

Dr Busuttil said the fund raising marathon was organised on the spur of the moment following the feedback received when the PN received the €121,000 bill from Kasco Limited.

“How it is that three months after this scandal was brought to light, the police are not looking into it. It seems that the police only take action when they see a wrongly-parked car,” he said.

Dr Busuttil reiterated his call for the appointment of a Police Commissioner who enjoyed the support of two-thirds of the House.

Air Malta

The PN leader expressed concern on the Alitalia chairman’s comments who said that their planned 49 per cent stake acquisition in Air Malta would cost nothing - “sotto zero”. 

“Why are we selling it (the airline) to somebody not willing to invest?”

Dr Busuttil proposed the sale of Air Malta shares to the public or employees. 

In a reaction, the Tourism Ministry said that Dr Busuttil's comments about Air Malta were "irresponsible." 

"The Opposition Leader is speaking on behalf of the party which led Air Malta into its current state," the statement read, adding that the government would continue negotiating in the national interest while consulting all stakeholders, including the Opposition.