'Isolate individuals promoting hate speech' - Prime Minister

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has called for the “isolation” of individuals promoting hate speech and urged fellow politicians to be more responsible in their criticism of political opponents.

Addressing the party faithful in Santa Venera, Muscat was reacting to the violent murder of British politician Jo Cox, killed by a 52-year-old man who was heard shouting “put Britain first” before and after he pulled the trigger.

The Labour leader said the UK Labour MP’s murder should not be seen as extraneous to Malta.

“Her death was inspired by hate … sowing a little bit of hate every day will finally leave its mark. All it takes is one person to act on it. Such a tragedy should remind us of the responsibility we have as politicians, even in the way we criticize our political opponents,” Muscat said.

“Our criticism should be limited to our work and should never translate into hate on a personal level. It is not just about what we as individuals say but it’s also about those who are associated with us and what they say or do. We must disassociate ourselves from the hate speech used in our country.”

Muscat said he disassociated himself from such speech, which went beyond political criticism or pulling someone’s leg.

“Hate speech is the intent of causing pain; to make someone’s life a misery … those who wake up in the morning simply to make others miserable. They need to be isolated from our political system.”

During his 40-minute intervention during which he touched upon various subjects, Muscat also accused Opposition leader Simon Busuttil of having put forward a proposal on Air Malta which “technically and legally cannot be done”.

As Air Malta looks towards embarking on a strategic partnership with Alitalia in a bid to solve its financial woes, Busuttil proposed that Air Malta should be floated on the stock exchange: to launch an initial public offering.

However, experts have advised the government against considering such an option: having been a loss-making company for at least 10 years, Air Malta would not even qualify for a listing of its shares.

“Who would even want to invest in a loss-making company? This proposal is not the solution,” Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said earlier.

Muscat said he had asked Zammit Lewis to seek advice on Busuttil’s proposal, adding that it’s a criminal act to launch a loss-making company on the market.

“Busuttil was either misguided or simply rushed ahead with his idea. Whatever the reason, it is evident that this man cannot be trusted.”

With the Brits going to the polls on Thursday, all of the European Union is anxiously waiting to see whether the United Kingdom will actually walk out of the EU.

Muscat, who personally believes the UK will vote to remain in, said the Maltese government had the necessary preparations in place, irrespective of the result. The Cabinet of Ministers would meet on Friday morning to discuss the result and a way forward.

Studies have shown that a Brexit would have both negative and positive effects on Malta, although Malta would be better off with a UK in the EU.

“This is ultimately a decision to be taken by the citizens of the UK … and it will be final and hard. The EU is not perfect, but leaving it will not solve anything. It will cost a lot of money to leave, it will bring about uncertainty, a lot of jobs will be sacrificed and no one will be better off. The UK is playing with its own future and that of the EU,” Muscat said.

“It could be that this generation decides to leave the UK; But I am sure that a future generation would want to return after this experiment is over.”