Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi this evening challenged the opposition to press its insinuations that a rural road in Żabbar had been done up to suit his personal needs.

He was answering a parliamentary question by Opposition MP Marthese Portelli, who had asked why this particular road had been given priority above all others in the same condition.

Mr Mizzi said the opposition had repeatedly sought to mislead public opinion to think that he had some personal interest in the road.

He had pictures of a car and a motorcycle with false number plates whose occupants had taken pictures of the road, following which a well-known person had asked for the field that Joe Mizzi had for sale.

Not content, the Opposition sought to rope in Times of Malta to publicise the issue, but this had been refused, he said.

Mr Mizzi said the road had been worked on with EU funds and he had every right to go anywhere, just like any citizen.

He repeatedly said he was not (former Gozo minister) Giovanna Debono, and if the Opposition thought there was any kind of corruption, it was free to take all steps available to it.