Mallia: Soldiers deployed at ministries to heighten security

Home affairs minister Manuel Mallia today explained that AFM soldiers have been deployed at ministries to heighten security.

In a parliamentary question, opposition MP Jason Azzopardi asked why government decided to deploy eight soldiers at ministries, when this was not the case before the 2013 election.

The minister said the move was intended to “improve the security.”

In a separate question, Mallia was asked why two soldiers have been deployed at his own ministry, to which the minister replied “I believe that the home affairs and national security ministry needs to be guarded and therefore two AFM members are stationed at the ministry.”

Asked why this security wasn’t provided by police officers, Mallia said the “AFM members are providing an excellent service” while adding that the police forces were undermanned.
The minister also said that the changing of the guard ceremony outside the President’s Palace in Valletta would be reinstated in the near future, however he did not give a precise timeframe.

The ceremonial guard was suspended, three years after being reintroduced with the AFM claiming that the suspension was temporary due to other temporary commitments.