The deputy leader of the Democratic Party has called for a corruption investigation after his family in Naxxar received a phone call on Monday from the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Security, asking if they required any special favours to be provided by the ministry.

The family live in Naxxar, which is in the minister's constituency.

In a letter to the Police Commissioner, Timothy Alden said this practice called for a criminal investigation into corruption as the mechanisms of the civil service and government seemed to have been compromised by the corrupt practice of clientelism.

"It is beyond doubt that voters are being bought," he said.

Furthermore, aside from being a legal issue, this was also a moral one, as those who received favours did so at the expense of others, he said.

"Were I to ask for a job, or for medical treatment in a timely manner, or for a building permit, then it would come at the expense of those waiting in a queue, or at the expense of those more qualified, or to the detriment of my neighbours were I to ask for exceptions to be made to the planning process at the Planning Authority," he wrote.

"That this sort of corruption is being practised has essentially been admitted by the government, if one refers to the recent Wasteserv scandal. It seems that both major parties have practised this across successive administrations and it seems that members of parliament and ministers have "customer care departments" to see to this. Corruption is institutionalised," he added. 

"As the Malta Police Force falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Security, I am sure that the Police will be in a privileged position to investigate this case of corruption I am bringing to your attention," he added.