The government will decide whether rogue oil trader George Farrugia’s Presidential pardon should be withdrawn following police investigations into allegations made today that a government official had accepted gifts from oil giant Trafigura at his request, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said.

Speaking in Zebbug this morning, Dr Muscat referred to the allegations, made in Malta Today, and noted that Mr Farrugia’s pardon had been given on condition that he would divulge all that he knew.

The police, he said, should investigate whether Mr Farrugia had told them about these gifts and based on the results of their investigations the government would see whether the pardon was still valid or if it should be withdrawn.

Dr Muscat also noted that the government official mentioned was suspended by the government this morning pending investigations.

He noted that although former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told the Public Accounts Committee a few days ago that he did not know who Mr Farrugia was, e-mails uncovered today showed otherwise.

The Prime Minister said that to ensure transparency, his government had appointed PN executive member Michael Falzon on the oil procurement committee.

He also spoke on Air Malta saying the government would not allow the airline to suffer the same fate as Cyprus Airways.

Cyprus closed down the airline last week after the EU ordered the struggling airline to pay back over €65 million in illegal state aid. The European Commission said the Cypriot government had breached the rules on support for struggling companies.

This should be a wake up call and the government would take all the necessary decisions to ensure Air Malta did not suffer the same fate, he said.

Dr Muscat criticised the leader of the Opposition for taking a week to decide how he would vote in the spring hunting referendum and noted that although he had had a year during which to take his decision, he opted to leave it to the last minute.

How would the Opposition leader handle a crisis situation where he had to take a decision within a matter of hours if not minutes, Dr Muscat asked.

Taking so long to decide on his vote in the referendum showed that he did not plan or think about the future.

Dr Muscat said about the referendum that although he had a duty to say what he thought when asked, people were free to take their own decision.

Earlier, the Prime Minister went through the government’s economic successes including in employment, helped through its investment in childcare, among others. He noted that the government would also be lowering the debt burden this year.

He also mentioned the new subcontractors contracts in the civil service which ensure that people were not precariously employed.