Labour MP Marlene Farrugia yesterday shunned an important vote in Parliament over the future of Enemalta, saying she did not have enough information about the issue.
This is the first time in this legislature that a member of the governing party has defied the whip.
The Bill turns Enemalta corporation into a limited liability company, paving the way for the sale of 33 per cent of the shares to Chinese State-owned company Shanghai Electric.
Contacted after the vote, the outspoken Ms Farrugia said she did not want to give her consent to something about which she did not know enough.
A decision on my part can only be taken after I have been made privy to what is contained in the actual deal and agreements reached
Echoing calls made by the Nationalist Opposition, Dr Farrugia said the government should first give all the necessary information about its plans to sell a significant part of Enemalta to the Chinese before asking for Parliament’s consent.
“Unless proven otherwise by the publication of all the relevant documents, I am under the impression that a foreign government [China] is acquiring substantial control over the only power generation entity in this country,” the MP said.
Under the deal between the government and China, the fate of the 1,500 Enemalta workers was still unclear as nothing in writing had been presented to Parliament, she added. “I felt that a decision on my part to confirm or otherwise the wisdom of this turn of events can only be taken after I have been made privy to what is contained in the actual deal and agreements reached,” she said.
When contacted, Labour whip Carmelo Abela admitted that he was not made aware beforehand of Dr Farrugia’s absence from the vote, as was customary. He said another two Labour MPs who were not there for the vote, Silvio Parnis and Franco Mercieca, were abroad after gaining his consent.
Parliament yesterday approved the Bill in second reading.
At the same time, a new government-owned company, Engineering Resources Ltd, will be set up to take on all Enemalta’s employees.
According to a preliminary agreement, expected to be concluded in September, Shanghai Electric will acquire its 33 per cent stake in Enemalta for €100 million and will be buying Malta’s only power station, known as the BWSC plant, for €150 million.