The Labour Party said today that the smart meters racket was 'a scandal of the Nationalist Party'.

It said the PN 'knows well about the racket' because it started under the PN government and was stopped under the Labour administration.

This showed the difference between the two governments.

It said the Leader of the Opposition should explain why no action was taken by the former government when he 'knew well enough' what was happening.

The former government was informed about what was going on, but made no investigation and took no action, the PL said.

Over the past few days the PN said one of those allegedly involved in the scam and who has been suspended, was close to Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi.

PN DENIAL

In a reaction, the PN said minister Konrad Mizzi was in a panic because the person he had appointed as liaison between Enemalta and his ministry was being investigated for theft of electricity. He was also trying to shift political responsibility.

The PN said Tonio Fenech, the minister responsible for Enemalta in the last months of the former government, had categorically denied knowing that a group of workers were tampering with the smart meters.Mr Fenech would be suing Dr Mizzi for libel after he comments he made on radio this morning.

The PN said the minister should assume political responsibility for bad judgement following the alleged actions of the person whom he had trusted, who had worked for him on his political district, and who had been given an allowance under this administration for being the liaison officer between the corporation and the ministry.