[WATCH] Muscat’s ALS ice bucket challenge • nominates MaltaToday, Times editors

Joseph Muscat does the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has taken the ice bucket challenge after being nominated by Tarragon chef Marvin Gauci... although the premier did get his surname wrong - as well as nominating his energy minister Konrad Mizzi and picking him for the cold shower.

The internet trend involves people posting videos online of them having water poured over them. The aim is to raise money and awareness for charity.

In his online video, Muscat also challenged MaltaToday editor Saviour Balzan and Sunday Times editor Steve Mallia to take up the challenge: just the sort of candidates Muscat believes deserve a cold shower.

The ice bucket challenge began in the US as a way of raising money for, and awareness of, ALS, a neurodegenerative disease.

“Lou Gherig’s disease is a serious disease and I will be donating a small amount to charity. I have nominated minister Konrad Mizzi, who is also responsible for water policy, to pour water,” Muscat said.

After getting poured with ice water, he nominated Balzan and Mallia.

Mizzi nominated singer Ira Losco, government spokesperson Kurt Farrugia, and Times journalist Ariadne Massa.

Former US President George W Bush has taken the ice bucket challenge. Many celebrities including David and Victoria Beckham, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift have also been getting wet in aid of charity.

Opposition leader dodges cold water

Taking a leaf out of the book of world leaders like Barack Obama, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil forwent the cold shower and instead posted a photo of him holding up the €100 donation to the Puttinu Cares Foundation.

He still took time to nominate some very particular choices: hunters' lobby CEO Lino Farrugia, Malta Gay Rights Movement coordinator Gabi Calleja, and General Workers Union secretary-general Tony Zarb. Are we correct in deducing that Busuttil has picked three of Labour's core demographics in the last elections?