Labour Leader Joseph Muscat this morning defended his deputy, Toni Abela, saying the issue being highlighted by the PN was far less serious than that involving Transport Minister Austin Gatt.
Questioned about it, Dr Muscat said the issue involving Dr Abela was “a purely civil case” related to what had been believed to be a forced entry and was an issue between two barmen.
He lambasted Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi over his silence on why he had chosen to defend Dr Gatt and endorse his version of events.
Pressed on whether he had listened to the recording in which Dr Abela said he had found a Labourite policeman and told him not to proceed with the case, Dr Muscat replied: “I think that Dr Abela explained his position very well.”
Asked whether Labour was applying a two weights, two measures approach between Dr Abela and his former deputy Anġlu Farrugia, Dr Muscat said there was a greater element of political responsibly in which had been said in court about former MEP candidate Vince Farrugia.
He was referring to SMS conversations that emerged in court in which Mr Farrugia allegedly attempted to influence witnesses in the court case against developer Sandro Chetcuti, which stands charged with attempting to seriously injure Mr Farrugia.
Dr Muscat was addressing a press conference during which he pledged more funds for the University of Malta to invest in research and development. He also mentioned Labour’s pledge to top up stipends with the cost-of-living-allowance, tax credits equivalent to the interest students pay on loans when following a course by a foreign university and a tax credit of €25,000 for those following PH.D courses.
Dr Muscat also said that students at Junior College, the upper secondary and the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology who need to repeat a year to get the requirements to start a university course will also be given a stipend for that year.
He said Labour was also proposing that unemployed who resorted to studying would be getting their unemployment benefit as well as a stipend.
Referring to the equipment at university purchased through European funds, Dr Muscat said his government would earmark funds for this equipment to be properly maintained.