Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, who had been touted as an almost natural choice in the new Cabinet, said yesterday he fully understood the Prime Minister's decision to exclude him from the list given the prevailing circumstances.

Contacted by The Times after Lawrence Gonzi said on Tuesday night he would not be given a Cabinet post, Dr Pullicino Orlando, who officially began his political career at the first local council in Żebbuġ in 1993, said he did not expect his party leader to make a different decision.

During the PBS current affairs programme Dissett, Dr Gonzi said, - when pushed for a reason why Dr Pullicino Orlando was excluded, there were still a number of things he did not know about the case in which Dr Pullicino Orlando was allegedly involved. So he would prefer to await the outcome of investigations conducted by Mepa's audit officer and by the police.

The Malta Labour Party targeted Dr Pullicino Orlando in the last week of the election campaign in connection with the proposed development of a discotheque in Mistra, on the outskirts of Mellieħa. The MLP claimed the discotheque would be developed on ecologically-sensitive land owned by Dr Pullicino Orlando but which was leased to third parties.

Dr Pullicino Orlando, who was elected on the two districts he contested, insisted he had nothing to do with the developer and was unaware of the full details of the proposed project.

"I fully understand his (the Prime Minister's) position and I didn't expect otherwise.

"I reiterate that I am very willing to cooperate with any investigation by the police and by Mepa, so that it may be concluded as soon as possible and my name is cleared. I have absolutely nothing to hide," he insisted.

Asked whether he had been informed about the Prime Minister's decision to leave him out of the new Cabinet, Dr Pullicino Orlando said this was a delicate issue and did not wish to comment further. Dr Gonzi said on the TV programme Dr Pullicino Orlando had not been informed of the decision by the time the programme was aired.