Updated: Muscat proposes measures to fight corruption - promises protection for information

(Adds PN's reaction)

Opposition leader Joseph Muscat this afternoon announced what amounts to an amnesty for individuals and companies which, under a Labour government, provide new information on political involvement in corruption, even if they too would have been involved in the cases.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Dr Muscat said that such individuals and companies which so collaborated would be given the necessary protection and, as applicable, no action would be taken against them.

Dr Muscat referred to the power station extension contract and said the episode reflected the need for tighter rules and government accountability.

He said that a Labour government would be committed to a secure power supply. It would also immediately start a process to stop the use of heavy fuel oil in the power station and shift to a more environmentally friendly alternative without imposing new financial burdens on the people. The Labour government would find the money for cleaner technology in the same way as the present government found money to build the new parliament or to lend money to Greece, he said.

Dr Muscat said a Labour government would give stronger investigative powers to the Auditor-General, particularly when witnesses did not collaborate with him. The Auditor-General would also have the right to reopen the BWSC case, he said.

CORRUPTION TIME-BAR TO BE REMOVED

Corruption cases involving politicians would not be time barred, he added.

A Labour government would protect officials and companies which produced any new information about the BWSC case and other cases, thus encouraging them to come forward, Dr Muscat said. Those who collaborated and gave infomration on the involvement of politicians in corruption would be given protection and would not have action taken against them.

Companies or persons found gulty of corruption would be blacklisted and would not be able to bid for government contracts for a determined period, depending on the gravity of the case.

Dr Muscat said a PL government would also strengthen the freedom of information act. It would also appoint a Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards in Public Administration, to oversee the behaviour of ministers and MPs and ensure that conflicts of interest were declared.

Dr Muscat warned that permanent secretaries and the chairman of public corporations would be held personally responsible should files or documents needed for investigations be missing.

In his press conference the Labour leader reiterated his calls for a law on party funding and said no progress had been made in this area in the Select Committee to strenthen democracy.

PN'S REACTION

In a statement, the PN said that with his news conference today, the Labour leader tried to divert the public’s attention from the opposition’s shameful behaviour in Parliament in the past week.

Dr Muscat knew that the Opposition’s behaviour had shocked everyone and showed his party to be extreme, regressive and militant.