The Malta Independent is once again calling for the publication of the full details of the contract Sai Mizzi – the Energy Minister’s wife – has as Malta’s envoy in China.

The call comes after the Energy Minister's wife Sai Mizzi has finally broken her silence on her salary during the Prime Minister’s visit to China, but negated to say how much her additional perks add up to. Mrs Mizzi told “selected media” in China (The Malta Independent was not invited to join the PM’s trip) she “only” earns €3,000 per month and is “hurt” by reports stating that she is racking in €13,000 per month. The “selected media” described her as being “tearful” when speaking about this and did not bring up the issue that this media house had asked for details of her contract through a Freedom of Information request which has been denied.

The figure of €13,000 per month was never previously denied by Mrs Mizzi or by the government, despite multiple attempts by this media house to obtain the exact details of her contract through a freedom of information request.

The figure of €3,000 per month undoubtedly refers to Mrs Mizzi’s basic salary minus the perks. Ms Mizzi told the national broadcasting station that she receives the same allowance as other ambassadors.

Malta’s ambassador to China Clifford Borg Marks’ allowance is €44,325, according to information tabled in Parliament. This would mean that Mrs Mizzi earns something in the region of €7,000 per month when the perks are added to her basic salary, somewhat short of the PN’s claim of €13,000 but well above Mrs Mizzi’s own disingenuous answer of €3,000. Mrs Mizzi said that had she been asked how much she earned earlier, she would have divulged the precise amount herself. “I was unaware that requests had been made,” she reportedly said.

Just last week, The Malta Independent had a freedom of information (FOI) request asking for details of Mrs Mizzi’s contract denied. An appeal was filed, but this was also turned down this week.

In the FOI request, this media house pointed out that the contract has been the subject of much speculation, and publishing it would help quell this. Mrs Mizzi has reportedly offered to publish her FS3 form, but it is her contract that interests this media house, as all her allowances would have to be listed there. The Malta Independent is once again demanding that the full details of Mrs Mizzi’s contract are divulged.

Mrs Mizzi told the media that she was hired as a special envoy to China on the basis of her qualifications, and not because she is Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi’s wife.

If position is true she only has her political masters to blame

PN In reply to questions sent by this media house, the Nationalist Party said that if Mrs Mizzi’s claim is true, she only has her political masters to blame for refusing to pub- lish her contract. “The Nationalist Party stands by its information that Energy Minis- ter Konrad Mizzi’s wife’s financial package, including salary and perks, amounts to €13,000 per month. What’s most remarkable is that information on this financial package has been in the public do- main since October 2013 and it is only now that it is being disputed.

If Mrs Mizzi’s position is indeed true, which it is not, she has only her political masters to blame for having refused to publish her contract despite repeated requests by the Opposition and independent media houses, including The Malta Independent, using all means possible, including Parliament and the Freedom of Information Act,” the PN said. “The side that should be talking and should be transparent is the government, which has repeatedly refused to publish Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi’s wife’s earnings which are paid using tax- payers’ money. Taxpayers de- serve to be told how much they are paying for Minister Konrad Mizzi’s wife’s prolonged stay in China. Government’s lack of transparency is astonishing and flies in the face of its electoral commitments.” “Today’s comments to the press would certainly have been more worthwhile had Minister Mizzi’s wife given details of her efforts and achievements since being appointed Malta Enterprise’s Special Envoy for Asia with such an exorbitant financial package.”