What price will Malta pay for agreement with China? - PN leader

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and the Labour government have betrayed Enemalta employees when they privatised part of the energy producing company, Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil said.

Answering the questions of journalist Roderick Agius on the regular Sunday interview, Dr Busuttil argued that PL's electoral manifesto clearly read that there will be no privatisation of Enemalta. However the government has now agreed to the privatisation of 75% of the company. "With half the company going to the foreign investor who is building the new power station, and half the remainder passing to China, Malta has become Enemalta's minority share holder", the Opposition Leader said. This will result in Malta loosing its independence in the utility sector and leaving the control of the country's electrical supply in foreign hands.

Complaining that the Prime Minister did not inform him of the details in his talks with China, Busuttil asked if Muscat is aware of various disputes between China and the EU over the production of solar panels at cheap prices. Although an agreement has since been reached, Busuttil questioned the Chinese interest in the Maltese company. "Is this China's way of accessing the EU market and what price will Malta pay for this agreement?" Busuttil queried.

The Opposition leader also challenged the way Malta would cast its vote in the international scenario if China is charged with breach of human rights. "It is normal that China faces such claim, and I ask will Malta cast tis vote based on its moral opinion or would it have to favour China in order to safe guard it's electrical supply", the Nationalist Party leader said.

Busuttil highlighted the lack of reaction from the General Workers Union over the Enemalta agreement, "however it is normal procedure for the GWU to stay quiet when Labour is in government". He held the 'political marriage' between the Union and the party in government is the reason behind this silence. At the same time Busuttil pledged his support for Enemalta employees saying that even if the GWU will remain silent, the PN will champion for their rights.

The leader of the Opposition also spoke about the health sectors, saying it is solid proof that the Labour Party was able to win the election but is unable to govern, Busuttil said.  Out of stock medicines have reached alarming levels, and even if under the previous administration the situation was not a happy one, it is now untenable. The public has no other option but to buy medicines, which by right should be given for free, Busuttil, argued. He went on to quote a number of patients whose medicine for stomach ailments was out of stock.

Dr Busuttil urged the government to reopen the M'Scala family park and cease its spiteful actions. "We have heard repeated reports and confirmations that the park was safe and is still safe to be open for visitors. There was never any hazard and this has now been confirmed by a number of entities", he said. Busuttil insisted that the park should be immediately re-opened for the benefit of the hundreds of families which took their children their to enjoy family time together.

The Leader of the Opposition criticised the government's fast tracked promotion saying that seniority and qualifications are being over looked. "An officer set for a high profile promotion was never in possession of security clearance", Busuttil claimed. He asked why the AFM Commander was being replaced and what were the actions leading to such changes. " The same measure was applied to the previous Police Commissioner who nobody had complained about. Same as the police commissioner, the AFM Commander will also be politically appointed", he said.

After six months, the country's institutions are under attack by a political party and PN will show its disagreement and will continue to stand for what is right, Dr Busuttil concluded.