MLP statute changes 'first wave of reform' - Muscat

Labour leader Joseph Muscat said today that the amendments to the party statute proposed by the MLP executive were just the first wave of changes in the party.

Dr Muscat told supporters at a political conference that these were major changes, not cosmetics.

“The question each of us have to ask is: Are we prepared to change?” Dr Muscat said.

He urged the party delegates to be courageous and he emphasised, in particular, the need to double the number of young people in the party’s echelons so as to bring in new blood and ideas.

The Opposition leader also referred to the education reform proposed last week by the government and said it should not be restricted to government schools and an understanding should also be sought with the other education sectors.

Dr Muscat hit out at IT minister Austin Gatt on the theft of data from MITTS and again called for his resignation. He also referred to a PN request for information on people complaining to ministries and said the government was defying a law – the Data Protection Act – which it had itself moved.

Dr Muscat complained that despite his call last week, the Prime Minister had not yet requested consultation with him on the appointment of a Data Protection Commissioner.