‘Busuttil embarrassing his own party’ – Joseph Muscat

According to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Simon Busuttil was "embarrassing his own party" with his tactics.

Addressing Parliament shortly after the Nationalist MPs walked out of the Chamber, Muscat said "no self-respecting politician" would have allowed allegations of political interference being made in their regard.

"Simon Busuttil is shooting from the hip. I understand that criticism could be heavy-handed and I don't mind heated exchanges. But I cannot accept such a serious allegation, accusing me of interfering in a police investigation," Muscat said.

"He failed to substantiate the allegation and has now refused to accept your [Speaker's] ruling... thinking he may have some gift of infallibility."

Muscat insisted that the parliament was not "some political band club but the country's highest institution".

"I feel sorry for the Nationalist supporters who are witnessing their leader bringing down the Opposition, repeatedly embarrassing the party," the Prime Minister said.

According to Muscat, a number of Opposition MPs who followed Busuttil out of the House "did so reluctantly": "It was evident from their body language and the surprised faces."

Energy Minister 'suffering for his success'

Reacting to the Opposition's call for the resignation of Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi over his wife's appointment as a government envoy for investment, Muscat said the PN was "angry" at Mizzi.

"It is clear they have not forgiven him for being one of a team who for months worked hard on an energy plan to reduce utility bills, a plan which was presented during the second week of the electoral campaign. And our plan convinced the electorate.

"They called it an 'Alice in Wonderland' and today we are living its implementation. Once they couldn't find anything by which to criticise the plan, they turned on Konrad - making calls abroad asking questions about his past. Once again they found nothing and no they have turned their guns on his family."

The Prime Minister commented that all this information had come from a source within the same PN.

"But these are all pleasures yet to come," he added.

Muscat said he was worried by Busuttil's suggestions that Mizzi's wife could have gained from the China deal.

"The leader of the Opposition must be very careful on what he says. Because, my Busuttil's own yardstick we should understand that Claudio Grech may had had a similar interest when he represented government in the SmartCity's negotiations and then went on to become its CEO. Is this what Busuttil is implying?," he said, quipping that "maybe this was the reason he walked out... for damage limitation".

On Sai Mizzi Liang's appointment, the Prime Minister said he "believed in sending out the best people and I am convinced that Mrs Mizzi will bring in more jobs".

Muscat noted that the Opposition never spoke over the appointment of Joe Zammit Tabone as the Labour government's global investment envoy.

Muscat went on to refer to when the Nationalist administration appointed Chris Evans as chairman of the BioMalta Foundation with a contract of €750,000.

Jobs at Enemalta 'guaranteed'

Muscat reiterated that Enemalta employees had nothing to fear as their jobs were guaranteed.

"Our job as a government is to negotiate in Malta's best interest and not to represent some other country's interests. I therefore cannot understand the Opposition's criticism... however I do suggest that Busuttil starts reading some economic books because he clearly has no idea what privatisation means," the Prime Minister quipped.

According to Muscat, Busuttil's comments that government had privatised Enemalta were "not attempts to mislead but he genuinely doesn't understand its meaning".

The agreement secured with China will see China Power Investments and its subsidiary Shanghai Power Electric buying a minority stake at Enemalta.

The Prime Minister said he could not understand how Busuttil could be hitting out at the deal when the Nationalist administration had privatised strategic assets such as the airport.

Muscat also confirmed the setting up of the Institute of Rule of Law. The announcement was also made by Secretary Kerry during the fourth ministerial meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) in New York on September 27th. Malta is to become home to The International Institute on Justice and the Rule of Law which will begin operations in 2014.