Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has no intention of making an apology to Sir Chris Evans over “fabricated claims” by Malta Enterprise on his role as special envoy on biotechnology.

After the renowned biotechnology expert reacted strongly to claims by Malta Enterprise that he was paid €750,000 to act as an envoy and that he failed to deliver, Sir Chris said Dr Muscat should intervene to stop “the madness” of Malta Enterprise and apologise.

However, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said there was no apology to make.

“It would have been much better if Sir Chris Evans made the front pages for the results he got for Malta in the life sciences sector,” the spokesman said.

“Instead, he hit back claiming that his failure was a result of the PN administration and former top chiefs of Enemalta.”

It would have been much better if Sir Chris made the front pages for results he got for Malta

Malta Enterprise’s attack on Sir Chris, repeated by the Prime Minister in Parliament this week, followed Times of Malta’s revelations that Sai Mizzi Liang – wife of Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi – was appointed as an envoy to attract business from Asia.

It was later revealed her role was pegged to the rank of ambassador, which has a annual financial package of up to €100,000.

Malta Enterprise justified this appointment, saying it was similar to Sir Chris’s position as biotechnology envoy under the PN administration.

The State’s investment promotion arm said it had cancelled his €750,000 job as he failed to deliver.

On his part, the biotechnology expert – considered to be one of the UK’s richest people – accused Malta Enterprise and the Prime Minister of “blatant lies and fabrication” to use him to “hide their own internal scandals”.

Sir Chris was appointed as BioMalta Foundation chairman – entrusted with planning a strategy to develop a life sciences park in Malta – in 2011.

He denied ever getting paid as an envoy or having any similar contract cited by Malta Enterprise and Dr Muscat.

He said the only role he had was to chair the foundation and that he was paid €75,000 for this.

Prior to this appointment he had made a proposal to the Government to invest €750,000 in the sector to lure investment to its park. However, he said the Government had turned him down due to lack of funds.

Sir Chris denied being sacked and said the foundation’s role had fizzled out due to lack of enthusiasm from executives.

Speaking to Times of Malta yesterday, Sir Chris again denied the Prime Minister’s declarations and challenged him to order “a credible and independent audit” of his work, which would show he had delivered what he was contracted to do.

“The Prime Minister is absolutely correct that results should reflect investment,” he said.

“Had Malta Enterprise accepted a proposal to commit €750,000 to biosciences projects then that would have delivered significant results for Malta.”

A spokesman for Sir Chris yesterday reiterated that his lawyers had been instructed to sue Malta Enterprise over its “false” declarations.