Recent Government decisions regarding the Kunsill Malti għall-Isport (Malta Sports Council) including the fact that this entity had four different chairmen since March, were a matter for concern, Opposition MP Robert Cutajar said.

Addressing a news conference outside the KMS headquarters in Cospicua, Mr Cutajar said that the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport Stefan Buontempo has recently commissioned the Management Efficiency Unit to carry out an operations review of this entity.

He questioned whether this exercise which will be completed by the end of the year is being carried out by the same person who is currently serving as the acting head of Dr Buontempo’s Secretariat.

Mr Cutajar said that the Government is bound to clarify this matter, to quell any suspicions of a conflict of interest.

The Opposition MP also raised questions about a number transfers to KMS employees, saying that it would have made more sense to take such decisions once the operations review is in hand.

He also criticised the appointment of Luciano Busuttil as the new KMS chairman, saying that the position was only offered to him after another Labour backbencher turned it down.

Asked about 13 former ministry officials who were detailed with the KMS a few days before the general election, Mr Cutajar said that such a procedure is standard practice, whenever there is a change in government. He added that none of them had been employed in the run up to the election.

The Opposition MP also expressed his concern that around 100 sports organisations including the Malta Olympic Committee are yet to receive the financial grants from the KMS.

He also criticised the current administration for cutting around €250,000 from this year’s allocation towards sport, remarking that this was in direct conflict with Labour’s pledge to promote sport tourism.