The Labour Party's proposal to build more detention centres and refurbish others dilutes the message that action has to be taken to solve the immigration problem, according to Azzjoni Nazzjonali, which otherwise aligned itself to the PL's plan.

In fact, AN leader Josie Muscat welcomed the fact that some of AN's proposals to tackle illegal immigration were included in the PL's 20-point policy proposed in Parliament during the two-day debate last week. However, he added, some proposals sent out the wrong message and raised serious doubts as to whether the PL was acting out of political convenience rather than conviction.

Dr Muscat noted that AN was always consistent on this issue of immigration whereas, up to the last election, the PL was holding back from admitting the severity of the problem.

He warned the public that judgment should be made on the results of actions and not promises. "The track record of both the PN and the PL where it comes to honouring promises is an abysmal one," he said.

More worryingly, the Parliamentary debate demonstrated that neither the PL nor the PN understood that Malta needed to send an unequivocal message to the prospective illegal immigrants, the EU and the international community that it was full up and that it did not pay to get here.

This message could be transmitted by increasing the punishment for human trafficking, currently a maximum five-year jail term.

"AN proposed the automatic penalty of lifetime imprisonment and the confiscation of assets for those who choose to deal in this despicable business," he said.

Dr Muscat also harshly criticised the decision of Médicins Sans Frontières to withdraw its services from detention centres due to sanitary conditions, adding that Malta needs help and not insults.