It has been reported that Manuel Mallia’s income from his parliamentary and sundry political appointments is in excess of €100,000 per annum. I have no doubt that this is chicken feed compared to what he used to earn when practising law. To give him his due, the man was a leading criminal lawyer.
What I fail to understand is how he and other backbenchers enjoy a much higher income and perks than the Prime Minister who appoints them and Finance Minister Edward Scicluna, who pays them from the public purse, considering the buck stops at the Prime Minister’s and the minister’s desk.
I admire them for their altruism but I have yet to hear of a CEO or captain of industry who pays his minions more than he earns for doing nothing much.