Dom Mintoff's successor at Castille, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, said today that Mr Mintoff was viewed as being a divisive figure because he brought about reforms which were resisted by the conservative forces.

He drew hatred on himself  but carried on for the common good and the national interest, he said.

Admittedly, his methods were rough, because he felt that the circumstances of the time so merited in order to push reform through. He brought reform at the expense of personal hatred, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said Mr Mintoff should be remembered as the person who had lifted the Maltese people, economically and culturally. He had showed the people how they could stand on their own feet and govern themselves without relying on foreigners.

"Mintoff gave the Maltese people an identity which they previously did not have in the eyes of the foreigners," Dr Mifsud Bonnici told timesofmalta.com.

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