(Adds Finance Minister's denial)
The whistleblower who had the courage to expose the issue that works had been carried out as a favour at Finance Minister Tonio Fenech’s house was being transferred from one Enemalta section to another, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this morning.
The Finance MInister has categorically denied the allegation.
Replying to questions from the public at Naxxar, Dr Muscat said that it was useless for the country to have a Whistleblower Act – which the government was promising after 25 years, if such matters were allowed to take place.
In a statement issued later today, Minister Fenech said Dr Muscat was repeating an allegation he made a year ago and which he had already denied.
The minister said he had already filed a libel suit against the newspaper and journalist who had filed the story, which was totally made-up and unsubstantiated.
Mr Fenech said he had always expressed his willingness to show the necessary documentation which would prove that the work was done in order.
Dr Muscat, the Finance Minister accused, was repeating what he heard on the Opposition media and added that he was also defending a person who was conducting private business when he was supposed to be working.
In his address, the Labour leader hoped that the changes the government was promising to anti-corruption laws would allow one to look at matters which would have taken place in the past, as well as future.
The PL, he said, had presented 15 proposals on good governance, including on how corruption should be fought.
On ARMS Ltd, Dr Muscat said this was an example of this government’s and the prime minister’s mediocrity.
The people administering ARMS were political appointees so the responsibility of the mediocre service offered by this company was the Prime Minister’s.
He also referred to the BWSC, which Dr Muscat said was now involved in another corruption case in Africa.
Dr Muscat was also asked about the internal reform that was taking place within the Labour Party.
He said that Labour managed to win the elections only when it transformed itself into a movement and that was what it was doing now.
“We are doing everything with a plan and strategy in mind.
“We are looking at the way this will lead us to forming a government with visionary politics. And our vision is for Malta to be the best country in Europe.”
Dr Muscat called for volunteers to help the party.
He said that an activity – Labour Connect, was being held on October 9. While this was not intended at fund raising, it would still be a call for the people to give to the party – not their money, but their time and skills.
Labour would accept even an hour a day or a day a week.
The aim was to get together as many skills and human resources as possible since a lot of work needed to be done to prepare the party for the election.