'Thank God we didn't copy the PN' - Muscat

"Thank God we didn't copy the Nationalist Party's electoral manifesto," Labour leader Joseph Muscat repeated this evening.

Addressing a political activity in Birkirkara that attracted a sizeable crowd despite the bitter cold, Muscat took the PN to task over its "U-turn" on the out-of-stock medicine.

Earlier today, the Prime Minister clarified that patients would not pay anything when they have to get medicines from private pharmacies because they would be out of stock in government dispensaries.

But according to the Labour leader, during the recording of this evening's Dissett, PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil said that the patients would buy the medicine and then receive a refund based on government prices.

"Thank God we didn't copy him... what a fiasco the Prime Minister did on this one," Muscat said, much to the amusement of his audience.

"But then again, this shows the panic state in which the PN is in. It clearly shows that Busuttil was not informed on this U-turn."

And giving him the perfect opening line, Muscat described as "a farce" certain aspects that emerged from the PN electoral campaign. The Labour leader was being asked what about the Carnival season.

"I heard more carnivalesque comments coming from certain individuals..." Muscat said, generating more laughter from the public before adding that a Labour government would provide carnival enthusiasts with a place where to work.

Without referring to him by name, Muscat derided PN secretary general Paul Borg Olivier over a Facebook status in which he described the PL female candidates as "a weak group".

"Comments of 'ours are better than yours' are reminiscent of politics of the past. Instead, we should welcome women who decide to contest elections, whether they're the general elections or the local councils ones. I thank all women who are contesting the elections for leading by example," he said.

Fielding questions on the disciplined corps, among other proposals, Muscat said that close circuit cameras would be installed at the police headquarters.

"It is unacceptable to hear of stories about people falling off from the bastions behind the depot or people escaping," he said. He also said that members of the police force agreed with the proposal to record police interrogations.

Muscat said a Labour government wanted to work with independent schools, deemed essential partners for the education sector.

"We intend to continue the current programmes which help alleviate the financial burden from independent schools which embark on infrastructural projects," he said.

Muscat added that under a Labour government, independent schools would become autonomous in their choice of curriculum.

In a funds appeal for tomorrow's fund-raising campaign, Muscat urged the people to "visit the fourth floor", in a jibe at the Prime Minister's reference to the "fourth floor boys".

Muscat said that the tents under which the PL holds its activities have been purchased over the years, but the setting up of the tents along with other work was all being carried out by volunteers.

"Everyday we have some 200 volunteers working at our headquarters... hundreds of others do voluntary work in different areas. But we need more funds to continue delivering our message," Muscat said.