Newly enacted legislation such as the Whistle Blower Act and the removal of the prescription period will help protect people who wanted to uncover scandals and expose those involved, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this morning.

Speaking on One Radio, Dr Muscat referred to the Auditor General’s report on the oil procurement process between 2008 and 2011 and said he was amazed that the Opposition had not given any valid reasons to justify the amateur way the process had been led.

Those responsible, he said, had not followed the most basic principles of good governance and tenders were not given to those making the cheapest offer.

Moreover, the same names that had been mentioned in the oil scandal of the previous years were also being mentioned in this report. He noted that Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi had asked the Police Commissioner to investigate the process in this period.

Dr Muscat also spoke on the report that had been commissioned by the Environment Ministry which led to the temporary closure of the Family Park in Marsascala.

Someone should shoulder responsibility, he said. The Government closed the plant as soon as it received the report because it cared for the people’s health. It closed the plant as soon as it was given the report, he said.

WasteServ, the Prime Minister said, had a lot to answer for. He noted that although the Sant’Antnin plant had to generate enough electricity from 1,400 homes it was actually only producing enough for 45.

He said that the most the Opposition could do in the situation was stay quiet and not criticise the government for the action it was taking.

The Prime Minister also spoke on Standard and Poor’s affirmation of Malta’s credit rating saying the agency came to Malta to examine the Government’s plans, including those on energy, listened to what the Government and the Opposition had to say and gave the country a stable outlook.

The agency noted there were challenges but it acknowledged the initiatives that were being taken to create jobs. It said the government had a strong electoral mandate to carry out reforms especially in the sectors where they were most needed.

Dr Muscat insisted that energy was a priority for this Government and said it was an area where the previous administration had disappointed because it did not give it the importance it deserved.

The sector had been buried in an enormous ministry and the people were suffering, he said.