The construction of Żonqor Point American University of Malta campus should be called off and the land should be reinstated as part of the Inwadar National Park, five environmental groups have said.

Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar, the Ramblers' Association, Front Ħarsien ODZ, Friends of the Earth and Nature Trust said they noted the the prudent statements made by the Prime Minister to the effect that university would not be building its Żonqor Campus until the Cospicua Campus was operating at full capacity.

There have been reports that the campus is struggling to recruit students. The university had planned to host about 4,000 students in its first five years on the island.

However, they were concerned that since Sadeen Education Investments Limited was a private firm, it was free to disregard the commitments made by the Prime Minister.

They said they were disappointed that the Prime Minister had not committed to leaving Żonqor Point in its natural state and that plans for the Żonqor Campus were still being processed by the Planning Authority.

In light of the considerable negative environmental impact of the project the eNGOs said they remained committed in their opposition to the Żonqor campus and would be challenging the project through the planning process at the appropriate time.

Read: AUM should not build Żonqor campus yet – Education Minister