Shanghai Electric Power, which bought a 33 per cent stake in Enemalta and the BWSC power plant, had no problem if the contracts it signed were published, PN leader Simon Busuttil said.
Speaking on a PN delegation’s visit to China, Dr Busuttil said “this was an occasion where the PN could pass its message to the Chinese government that a future administration can continue to work with China on the basis of a transparent and good governance relationship”.
He said that during a one-hour meeting with Shanghai Electric, the PN got a lot more information than what the Maltese public was given in two years.
“Shanghai Electric emphasised that they wanted a transparent relationship with Malta and could not understand why the government is reluctant to publish the contracts,” Dr Busuttil said.
This meant Prime Minister Joseph Muscat did not have any further excuses to not release the contracts, he added.
Dr Busuttil showered praise on Clifford Borg Marks, Malta’s Ambassador in China, describing him as a professional person.
However, he adopted a different attitude with regard to Sai Mizzi Liang, Minister Konrad Mizzi’s wife, who was appointed trade envoy for Asia in August 2013 and Consul General for Shanghai last year.
Describing the meeting with her as “civil and cordial”, he said Ms Mizzi Liang “does not understand why the PN objects that a minister’s wife should not be given a public appointment”. Dr Busuttil stressed that, apart from reasons of nepotism and the “overgenerous” salary of €13,000 a month, the meeting gave rise to a third objection: “She is not fit for purpose. She does not understand Malta’s and the EU’s needs in terms of trade relations and has no idea on the possibility that Maltese companies could even penetrate China’s vast market.”
Dr Busuttil, who was shown around the ongoing refurbishment of the 160-square-metre office that will be used as Malta’s consulate, said it was evident that, for the past two years, Dr Mizzi had no office in Shanghai.
‘Unacceptable under my watch’
A PN government would never accept that the Prime Minister’s spokesman should pass disparaging comments on the Opposition.
Asked about a tweet by Kurt Farrugia, head of government communications, calling the Opposition leader “chicken” following his meeting with Sai Mizzi Liang, Dr Busuttil said he would not react to such childish comments.
“What I can tell you is that, under my watch, Mr Farrugia would have been shown the door a minute after sending that tweet. We don’t pay taxes so that people like Kurt Farrugia offends the Opposition,” he said.
“Our standards are much higher than that. He embarrassed the Prime Minister, not me,” Dr Busuttil added.