Front Harsien ODZ said today that it has asked the Local Governance Board to investigate Mario Calleja, mayor of the Marsaskala Local Council, "following his recent statements on agreeing to being gifted the construction of new local council premises by Sadeen Education Investment Ltd if the proposed American University of Malta is constructed on Zonqor land."

Times of Malta reported on November 21 that Sadeen Group, the company behind the controversial American University of Malta, had promised to build new premises for the Marsascala local council if a campus in Żonqor was permitted.

Speaking to the Times of Malta, Mr Calleja said the council had asked for help in kind from Sadeen Group during a recent meeting. “I met the CEO about a week before our last council meeting. I asked him what the council would be gaining from the project. We asked for help in kind and that includes the building of our new premises, which we desperately need,” he said.

Nationalist Party councillor Charlot Cassor described the deal with Sadeen Group as “ridiculous”,  saying this was not normal procedure.

“I wouldn’t lose the land at Żonqor for the council’s building, and I would never accept a deal like this with the private sector. This compromises our position,” Mr Cassar said.

The mayor denied the deal compromised the council’s stand. “I will take what I can. Otherwise, how are we going to build the new premises without the funds? We did what everyone else would do. There’s nothing wrong with this,” he added. He insisted the deal was a positive move that would benefit the community, adding this was no trouble for Sadeen Group.

“They are contractors. Once they’re building the university, they’ll send some people here to build the council’s premises.”

The local council was last year granted a permit by the planning authority to build new council premises in Ġnien Santa Tereza, close to the church on the Marsascala promenade. The site forms part of a public urban local space that is still being used for recreational purposes.

Mr Calleja also said he had negotiated other “help in kind” from the Sadeen Group relating to infrastructure, including lighting and road works in Triq il-Blajjiet, two public convenience facilities and a new sewage system. He also expressed his wish that the company transports excavation material from the Żonqor site by sea rather than land to avoid inconveniencing the public.

In a statement this afternoon, the Nationalist Party said this was a classic case of institutionalised corruption under the Joseph Muscat government.

"The situation is so serious that a person who is supposedly representing the electorate, was not only bought, but is proud to say so," the PN said, while urging the authorities to take action