‘I have no idea who threw a petard at me’ former MEA boss says

Former Malta Employers Association president Michael Mallia today said that he could not identify the person who fired a petard at him in 1981. Mallia was giving evidence in court over a libel case filed against GRTU director Vince Farrugia by GWU boss Tony Zarb.

"In 1981 Malta was going through hard times. However, I can neither confirm nor rule out that the person who threw a petard (murtal) at me in February of that year, did so for political reasons as I still do not know his identity", former Malta Employers Association president Michael Mallia, said in court.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale was hearing evidence in the libel case filed by GWU Secretary general Tony Zarb against former GRTU director General Vince Farrugia.

Farrugia had claimed the GWU targeted particular people applying fascist tactics to undermine their positions. One of these people was former MEA president Michale Mallia. The former GRTU Director had also denied he had used the term 'mice and rats' when referring to people employed with precarious job conditions.

From the witness stand the former MEA president explained that in the 80s, the constituted bodies had former the COPE. Mallia himself was one of the founders, but it was Maurice Zarb adami who represented the GRTU. At that time, Vince Farrugia had not yet joined the trade union scene.

On 10 February 1981, COPE met the Federation of industry in Floriana. The aim was to discuss the way forward after a law was proposed that precluded anyone from taking the government to court.

When they exited the building a petard was throw at the witness from a car driven towards Valletta. Until this very day, Mallia does not know who the person was. "What I know is that parts of it hit my let and hurt me. I picked up the pieces and went took them to the media. Later the police had a go at me because I messed with the scene of crime", he said.

Although the local political scene at the time was a bubbling cauldron of ideologies, Mallia ruled out that the GWU or Tony Zarb himself was behind the attack.

"I did not even know Tony Zarb back in 1981. I got to know him six years later in July 1987 when I was involved in the Air Malta negotiations", Mallia said.

The case was postponed to a later date for more evidence.