Opposition ‘immature’ in its AFM criticism, says home affairs minister

According to the National Security Minister, the Opposition was being "immature" in its criticism of the recent promotions within the Armed Forces of Malta.

Manuel Mallia scoffed the PN's allegation that the army was being taken over by the government. "As if," he said, almost laughing.

He also denied that pressure was mounting on AFM Brigadier Martin Xuereb to step down his post: "He was neither asked to resign nor do I have a request on his behalf to resign."

The promotion of four army majors to lieutenant colonels has sparked an Opposition offensive on the home affairs, insisting that the promotions were given to four "militant and staunch Labourites".

PN MPs Jason Azzopardi and Beppe Fenech Adami also flagged a number of policy changes in the promotion process criteria which would "have allowed" the promotion of these four.

In its undermining of the institutions, the Opposition was being "immature", Mallia concluded.

"I urge the Opposition to stop attacking the institutions," he said when questioned by the press.

The minister insisted that all nomination were according to law, with the defence committee having already set the guidelines.

Describing the promotion process as "shameful," the Opposition said that members of the home affairs minister's secretariat, including the deputy chief of staff Ramona Attard, and a customer care officer, Clint Cutajar, sat on the selection board.

Mallia however pointed out that it was the minister's prerogative to appoint people of trust. "Just like Lawrence Gonzi had his own consultant to the board, I appointed the people I trust. It is also pertinent to note that there were numerous complaints from soldiers that, with the army board being made up solely of army peers, personal clashes would kick in."

The home affairs minister added that the policy changes were carried out to open up promotion possibilities for more soldiers.

Mallia noted that the four promoted soldiers had also been made majors under the PN-led administration.

The Opposition has claimed that Lt Cols. Pierre Vassallo, Mark Mallia, Jeffrey Curmi and Mark Said were promoted despite having doubtful credentials. It also alleged that Vassallo did not have the necessary security clearance in 2006 because of a disciplinary case in 1986 when he was kicked out of the police force.

Refusing to confirm or deny whether this was true, Mallia lambasted the Opposition for going public on matters of security check.

"With what right do they reveal a person's name and comment about his security clearance when these are matters which only the Security Service deal with," Mallia said.

When asked whether the Opposition was still correct in raising the issue, the minister said these were "sensitive matters" which shouldn't be dealt with in the public.

"Even if it were so - and I am not saying it is or it isn't because I don't want to the Opposition's same mistake - you cannot go public with it. Let alone, speaking about a case where not even the person involved knows why he didn't have security clearance," Mallia said, adding that all promoted persons were cleared.

The minister however questioned how the members of the Opposition came to know of Vassallo's security clearance and to which case it was related.

Lt Col Pierre Vassallo has a pending constitutional case through which he has repeatedly asked for reasons why his security clearance had been removed. However, he was always told that such information was confidential and cannot be given.

"The court case was filed in 2007 and to this day, Vassallo is still waiting for a justification of the security clearance refusal," his former legal counsel, today parliamentary secretary for culture José Herrera, said.