The Times and The Sunday Times have the immense benefit of possessing an asset that few, if any, of the other media truly enjoy in Malta: independence.

Throughout the newspapers' history, this has enabled them to speak out on what they deem to be in the public interest without fear or favour to political parties or businessmen: whether it is on the issue of integration, Malta's independence, years of political repression, the EU, or the environment.

The Allied Newspapers building, which houses the two newspapers, paid the ultimate price for this when it was burnt down by Labour thugs in 1979. But even that failed to disrupt its long-standing mission.

Independence, however, is not to be confused with impartiality. The newspaper would not serve its readers by playing the passive role of an umpire in a tennis match. That would render it little more than a noticeboard. Its function is to report happenings in the country in a correct and objective manner, and take a stand on issues that affect the way people live and think, as well as to provoke, and contribute to, discussion.

There have been few talking points in the past week bigger than the contents of the speech made by Alfred Sant's surgeon (and Labour Party candidate) Anthony Zammit at the start of the MLP general conference last Thursday.

Mr Zammit did not provide the assembled crowd with substantive information on the successful operation that took place, as one might expect from a surgeon. He instead embarked on an embarrassingly exhibitionist display of triumphalism and electioneering. Which may prompt one to pose an uncomfortable question: What would have been his main concern had - heaven forbid - the surgery not gone to plan? Failure at the polls?

He then went on to launch a tasteless attack on President Eddie Fenech Adami, who underwent major surgery twice as Prime Minister, on one occasion in the US.

Every individual has the right to choose where he or she is treated for a health condition. This applies as much to a farmer as it does to the leader of the country. So that Mr Zammit made an issue of Dr Fenech Adami going to the US for his intestinal operation back in 2000, is from the off a non-starter.

But it gets worse for the surgeon: Not only had Dr Fenech Adami placed his life in the hands of a Maltese surgeon the year prior to that (for a triple heart bypass), but he went to the US on the advice of doctors in Malta - and was treated by a Maltese specialist once he got there - because no one could establish precisely what was wrong with him.

A week is a long time in politics and seven years is an eternity in the development of medical science; in all probability there would not have been the need for Dr Fenech Adami to travel had the situation arisen today - because medical facilities and knowledge in Malta have continued to improve.

However, these facts speak for themselves so vociferously that they are almost superfluous. The real issue is that Mr Zammit, who is rumoured to covet the post of health minister should Labour be elected, is using two people's medical condition to boost his electoral chances. This is wrong. And it is the role of an independent newspaper to say so.