Security Committee: Busuttil says Security Service can be trusted

Updated at 6:40pm

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil exited from a meeting of the Security Commitee convened by the Prime Minister to discuss the operation of the Malta Security Service, satisfied that concerns he raised with the government had been addressed and that the MSS "was and still is a body that enjoys our trust".

The seemingly positive outcome to the meeting saw both Busuttil and Joseph Muscat address a short, joint press conference in which both leaders declared that the MSS enjoyed the trust of both sides of the House.

The prime minister convened the security committee at the request of Busuttil who questioned the presence of home affairs minister Manuel Mallia during interviews for recruits for the Malta Security Service. Mallia defended his presence during the interviews of finalist recruits, claiming it was upon Cassar's invitation that he was present.

In a letter to Muscat yesterday, Busuttil said that the minister's presence during the interviews was "unacceptable [for a] democratic country. This issue is extremely dangerous: it undermines the rule of law and the public's trust in the Security Service."

Asked by MaltaToday whether the MSS should be under parliamentary scrutiny, Busuttil said that this evening's two-hour Security Committee had served its proper purpose as a body of scrutiny.

Both Busuttil and Muscat had no comment to make on the past operation of the MSS, which saw two of its heads resign over alleged misconduct.

The Security Committee included home affairs minister Manuel Mallia, foreign minister George Vella, and MSS chief Michael Cassar.

Mallia has defended his presence at an interview for finalist candidates for Security Service recruits, claiming the same procedure as that employed by the former Nationalist administration had been followed. "Since the responsible minister is ultimately the person who approves this recruitment, the head of the Security Service felt it should be the minister who is also present for the final scrutiny of the new recruits," Mallia said.

The PN said the new was "shocking and an unprecedented irregularity... a threat to individuals' liberties... It is unheard of, in any democratic country, Malta included, having a minister being directly involved in the Security Service."

Green party Alternatttiva Demokratika also said it was preoccupied at the way the Security Service Act gives any role to the minister in the recruitment process. "Rather than wasting his and the people's time by interviewing prospective Secret Service candidates or organizing the catering roster for policemen turned waiters, Minister Manuel Mallia should intervene with the US authorities to ensure that Malta's people are not being spied upon electronically," AD chairperson Arnold Cassola said.