Malta Enterprise is maintaining total silence about Sai Mizzi Liang’s future as its envoy to Asia, also failing to give information about her achievements over the past three years.
Health and Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi would not say whether his wife would be returning to Malta once her contract with the government agency expires in August.
Questions sent to Malta Enterprise on March 1 remain unanswered despite six reminders and promises by the government agency that replies will be sent shortly.
The Times of Malta asked Malta Enterprise to say whether Ms Mizzi Liang opted not to renew her contract and, in such an eventuality, who would be replacing her.
Malta Enterprise was also asked for Ms Mizzi Liang’s performance appraisals or a list of investments she has secured for Malta during her three-year tenure.
It was Dr Mizzi who said his wife would not continue in her role. He made the announcement on the same day he was elected deputy leader of the Labour Party. Dr Mizzi did not give a reason for his wife’s decision.
The employment of Dr Mizzi’s wife on a €13,000 monthly financial package as Malta Enterprise’s envoy to China was the first controversy in which the Energy Minister was embroiled soon after Labour returned to power.
She had been employed on the recommendation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
Unlike her predecessor in China, Ms Mizzi Liang was put on the same salary level as an ambassador. The package includes expenses covering her residence, transport needs and schooling for the couple’s children.
Following her appointment, Ms Mizzi Liang was also appointed by the government as Malta’s consul for Shanghai, China’s most prosperous city, and a modern consulate general was opened to issue visas for Chinese citizens.
In her only public appearance in Malta in July 2014, on the occasion of the opening of a small representative office of China’s telecoms company Huawei at Smart City, Ms Mizzi Liang defended her role. She had warned journalists not to “believe everything you read about me online”.
“This is the real me. I want to tell you what I do for you. I manage and develop Malta’s relationship with the largest economy in the world. I promote Malta in China and bring business back to Malta,” she had said.