It is crystal clear that Home Affairs and National Security Minister Manuel Mallia is uncomfortable committing himself to publish the findings of two inquiries both involving the police force. One is about a decision that was made by former police commissioner Peter Paul Zammit not to press charges against a person who allegedly assaulted four officers and the other is connected with the case of a man who was wrongly arraigned over a hold-up.

In both cases, the public had been told the findings would be published. But the minister seems to have had a change of heart. This raises suspicion that something could be embarrassing or else the minister wants to play for time to rectify any wrong/s flagged.

The manner in which the minister has been trying to wriggle out of the public declarations made that the findings would be published is pathetic, not to say an outright insult to the people’s intelligence. His behaviour while opening a mobile police station at Marsascala – thank goodness for such events which allow the press to doorstep ministers – speaks volumes about the man who heads such a sensitive ministry.

Dr Mallia had already said he had yet to go through the reports because he was abroad. Admittedly, Cabinet ministers are very busy people and they do travel a lot but the findings of one of the inquiries were submitted sometime in late September or early October last year and the other at the end of last July.

In Marsascala, he assured Times of Malta the inquiries “are being analysed”. He is certainly taking his time and when this was pointed out to him he felt he had to explain that, as minister, he had to look at various aspects and then seek advice accordingly. He will make a good defence lawyer for the contractors engaged on the new Parliament building who are facing hefty daily fines because of delays.

The ultimate was when, in what could only have been an attempt to attribute political motives and/or a desperate effort to deflect attention, Dr Mallia asked the inquisitive journalist of this newspaper who his former employer was. Now, of course, the minister knows that and if not, he could have easily checked, but he evidently wanted to hear the journalist of Times of Malta say it himself that he used to work for the Nationalist Party’s media.

Old habits die hard and, at that moment, Dr Mallia, a leading criminal lawyer, must have thought he was in a courtroom interrogating criminals or seeking information from his clients.

It is very ironic that he, of all people, should try to imply that a journalist coming from a Nationalist background was trying to embarrass a Labour minister. Dr Mallia need not be asked about his past political allegiance because it is widely known that he used to be associated with the Nationalist Party, as he had every right to do.

People in glasshouses should learn never to hurl stones and a pot should not call the kettle black.

Certainly, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat does not approve of such antics. Therefore, he ought to intervene and make sure they stop forthwith. He must also order his Home Affairs Minister to do what was promised to the people and publish the findings of the two inquiries without wasting any more time.

It is not only Dr Mallia’s political credibility and credentials which are at stake but also those of Dr Muscat and his government.

In March 2013, the people did not vote for such a style of government.