Muscat comes down hard on political corruption

Labour Leader Joseph Muscat underscored Labour's commitment to stamping out political corruption, insisting "no politician should ever feel like they can get away with it."

Muscat was speaking during an episode of Fis-Sustanza, broadcast from ta' Giorni, by presenters Simone Cini and Robert Musumeci.

During his address, the Labour leader reiterated the PL's proposals regarding ensuring proper political conduct, as well as parliamentary ethics.

Speaking about the PL's proposal to remove the prescription on crimes related to political corruption, Muscat was categorical: "Politicians should never feel like they can rest easy if they involve themselves in corruption. If proof ever emerges of their involvement in such practices, they should be prosecutable. We need to raise standards."

Turning to Labour's proposal to bind parliamentary honoraria to MPs' attendance in parliamentary sittings, Muscat said that MPs should be expected to "show up for work" in the same way that everyone else is.

"We need to give an example, because it is about time that politicians set an example," adding that Labour would also end the practice whereby MPs ask or answer questions on behalf of other MPs who are absent.

"I don't think I'll make many friends with these laws," Muscat said lightly, as he drove home his message on zero-tolerance on corruption and proper political conduct.

Regarding the much-debated and long-awaited Whistle Blowers' Act, Muscat reiterated that Labour intends to tweak the proposed legislation in two ways by making it easier for individual to report corruption cases by protecting them (within limits to cut down on abuse), while also amending the law so cases of corruption can no longer be time-barred.

He also said that MPs should not have the power to decide their own pay, proposing that a mechanism be designed and overseen by the Ombudsman, the Auditor General, and the Attorney General.

"There should never be a situation where there are suspicions of politicians scratching each other's backs. If money is what you are after, go into business and stay out of politics."

Speaking of civil liberties, Muscat also reiterated Labour's pledge to introduce civil unions for gay couples, and accused the Nationalist government of being a confessional government that tolerated people with alternative lifestyles by ignoring them.

Speaking about the ongoing 'cheaper bills' energy proposals debate, Muscat said that just a few hours earlier, government had delivered its fifth position since Labour had delivered its proposals on how utility bills can be lowered.

He noted that Finance Minister Tonio Fenech had published a report drawn up by auditing firm KPMG, adding that he is pleased that government is seriously evaluating Labour's proposals.

"I would have however expected the report to have been commissioned by the Nationalist Party, and not by Enemalta, at the tax-payer's expense," Muscat remarked, also reiterating Labour candidate Konrad Mizzi's statement earlier that the report was based upon "mistaken" information provided by Enemalta to KPMG.

Noting that it took government a week to rebut with researched-information, Muscat said that KPMG's report "reaffirms our position and our pledge. We remain convinced."

He also noted that it was true that DNV KEMA had suggested that one option could be to rely entirely on the interconnector. "DNV KEMA considered several options, and we, as a party, chose one of them."

He argued that while the interconnector remains viable, and that Labour remains committed to its construction, he said that it would not be wise to remain wholly dependent on one source of energy.

He also insisted that given that the interconnector project is still in its infancy, and will take roughly another ten years to build, it is not feasible to put off reductions in energy bills till then.

Muscat also dismissed the Health Ministry's statement regarding the effect of the Delimara plant on residents' health, insisting that the government is being intentionally misleading and is attempting to "insult the public's intelligence."

He underscored Labour's commitment to "ending the use of sources of energy that are damaging to people's health."

Muscat also insisted that Labour's costings are based on credible and reliable forecasts by DNV KEMA, which allowed the consultant to estimate how much a Labour government would be able to buy energy when the interconnector is built.

"If we want the economy to grow, we need to be forward looking. That is why we are taking into account the need to 'budget' for a growth capacity that will last us for the coming 15 to 20 years. We need to plan ahead."

He reiterated that the private sector is "very interested" in Labour's proposal, and noted that the PN is either claiming that the private sector is not interested, or else insisting that Labour already cut a private deal. "Which is it?" Muscat asked.

"Scaremongering might work with some people for some of the time, but it will not work indefinitely," Muscat said, adding that "this seems to be the Nationalist Party's only tactic so far."

During a brief intervention, former Enemalta chairman Joe Ellul Vincenti refuted the PN's criticism that part of the proposed gas plant would be unstable, because it is built on reclaimed land.

He insisted that two turbines out of the current Delimara plant, as well as four large fuel tanks, are already built on reclaimed land, adding that concerns regarding the stability of reclaimed land in the area "are not warranted."