Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo said yesterday that Malta, a country with churches everywhere and village feasts every Sunday, was making a carnival of morality every day.
There had been racist comments against illegal immigrants, heartless businessmen exploited the migrants just to make money, and other foreigners were being used as prostitutes, he told parliament.
Speaking during the adjournment of the morning sitting, Mr Vassallo said the Maltese people were very generous in the solidarity they expressed with people in need who were far away. But following the clash between the illegal immigrants and soldiers one could see contrasting positions. Some insisted that the migrants should be respected and helped, while others did not condemn, and almost condoned, actions to prevent migrants from living here.
When he saw an element of right wing politics being born here, he worried that this could be a sign of social malaise.
The people and parliament should be concerned over certain remarks which verged on racial hatred - this at a time when the world was commemorating the Auschwitz anniversary.
Mr Vassallo said he wanted to condemn those people in the business sector who were exploiting illegal immigrants, paying them pittance for their work and providing them with accommodation that was worse than that for animals. And despite all this, they did not sell their products at a lower price.
One simply could not have a situation where, to beat competition, businesses employed and exploited the migrants. The relevant government authorities needed to investigate such matters and curb abuse.
Such practices by these heartless businessmen were not only wrong in themselves, but they also created unfair competition for those businesses which acted correctly.
"Unless we are careful, we will end up having forms of slavery, both in the case of illegal immigrants employed as cheap labour, as well as white slavery, where young foreign women are employed as prostitutes.
"In this country, full of churches and one feast or two every Sunday, we are making a carnival of morality, where many people declare themselves in one way in public and make donations for the feasts, but then when it comes to personal values when business decisions are taken, the only principle is how to make most money."
Maltese society was increasingly becoming indifferent to the application of the Catholic faith in everyday life.
It was positive that the Local Councils Act would include a reference to a code of ethics for councillors. There was also need for a code of ethics for business. The GRTU had once worked on a code of ethics for businesses and he would be working on this line too and would be meeting the GRTU, the FOI and the Chamber of Commerce with a view to develop a conscience for a code of ethics. The problem, however, was convincing the people who could not care less.
In every sector of this country one needed to underline the need for seriousness and respect for Christian values. One needed to build a society which was truly tolerant and truly believed in solidarity.
Many often spoke about the financial deficit and the government was countering that problem. But who would act for this country to be socially sustainable and based on strong values? It was a responsibility, Mr Vassallo said, which rested on everyone, from politicians to parents.
Unfortunately, many people with responsibilities were not doing their duties to the full. Parents, for example, were compromising their family duties with their enjoyment.
Politicians spoke on codes of ethics for MPs or for councillors, but all should have a code of ethics based on Christian values which distinguished right from wrong.
What was a luxury in the past, such as a mobile phone, had become a necessity now, but the values which were seen as a basic necessity in the past, including religion and Christian doctrine were now seen as a luxury one could do without.
How could there be tolerance, solidarity and codes of ethics without such values? When children were not even sent to Christian doctrine classes, what was being allowed to grow in the young was indifference, egoism and confusion.
Values should not be akin to crystal glasses showcased but never used, Mr Vassallo said.
Unfortunately, sometimes, opinion and decision makers, particularly those on the media, did not always want the best for the people but wanted to exploit them to make money. They told the people what they wanted to hear, not what was good for them. It was about time one went back to basics, starting with the truth.