(Adds PL's statement)
In his first unprompted statement since retiring from politics, Austin Gatt insists he has no obligation to talk to the media.
The ex-Nationalist Cabinet minister has refrained from commenting on political matters since not contesting the general election.
He even kept silent when approached for comments on the Auditor General’s scathing report on fuel procurement by Enemalta when it was his responsibility.
“I have no obligation, ethical, political or otherwise, to talk to the media,” he said in a letter to Times of Malta.
He said this decision was taken long before the Auditor’s report was made public two weeks ago.
Dr Gatt was reacting to this newspaper’s editorial yesterday criticising his silence on the report.
He said he had no issue speaking about the report in “proper institutions” such as Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, noting its authors had not spoken to him.
“I have decided to take comments and criticism in stoic silence.”
The Auditor General’s report found serious shortcomings at Enemalta with lack of transparency and accountability in the way fuel was bought between 2008 and 2011.
Dr Gatt was politically responsible for Enemalta until 2010 when the portfolio was shifted to then finance minister Tonio Fenech.
Mr Fenech now chairs the Public Accounts Committee and yesterday said it had not been decided whether to discuss the report when Parliament resumes in September.
“The Government has sent the report to the police and, within this context, even the Auditor General seems to have refrained from speaking to your newspaper,” he said.
LABOUR PARTY REACTS
In a statement this morning, the Labour Party said the former minister's statement placed a bigger burden on PN leader Simon Busuttil.
It said Dr Busuttil should shoulder responsibility for what had taken place when people were getting commissions for the oil procured by the country while the Maltese and Gozitans were being faced with high bills.
Dr Busuttil, the PL said, should act as leader and not be afraid to speak.