Opposition leader Simon Busuttil today hit out at what he described as a government abandoning its socialist roots in service of “millionaires”.

Speaking during an interview on Radio 101, Dr Busuttil said that the government did not care about the average worker and people who were struggling to make ends meet.

Dr Busuttil said the Nationalist Party would be there to help those the government had abandoned.

He said the PN did not want to be seen as “the lesser of two evils” but as the best choice for government.

The PN’s vision for the country was one of excellence, he said.

The Opposition leader expressed his frustration about the way Malta’s reputation had been tarnished in just three years due to the multitude of scandals under the Labour government.

He vowed that the PN would be ready for the next election, which would take place in a maximum of 18-months’ time.

On the medical visas issue, Dr Busuttil said he was extremely concerned that the Libyan whistleblower was not receiving police protection.

Media reports today said that the whistle blower had been threatened twice in one week by an unnamed person.

The Libyan whistleblower had alleged that health ministry official Neville Gafa was receiving bribes in return for issuing medical visas for Libyans wishing to come to Malta.

The official, Neville Gafa, allegedly pocketed the funds, amounting to nearly €38,000, and purchased a BMW, according to a letter sent to then-health minister Konrad Mizzi back in April.

Dr Busuttil said Mr Gafa was appointed by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

He appealed to Dr Muscat, the Police Commissioner and Attorney General to say they would be offering protection to the whistleblower.

He warned that he would hold them all personally responsible if any harm came to the person who had revealed the scandal.

The Opposition leader raised the potential security implications for Malta.

He said there was no way of knowing whether Libyans granted medical visas really required care in Malta.

On Air Malta, Dr Busuttil said that there was no need to sell the national airline to “foreigners”.

He instead urged the government to take up the Opposition’s suggestion of selling shares to local investors.

Like this, Air Malta would remain under the control of the Maltese, Dr Busuttil said.