Sai Mizzi Liang, the wife of Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi who was given a ‘no expenses spared’ package to serve as Malta Enterprise’s trade envoy to Asia, has been afforded a ‘high-end’ ambassador’s package when she is, in fact, not an ambassador.
Former ambassadors who spoke to The Malta Independent have also pointed out that Ms Mizzi Liang enjoys a number of benefits not previously afforded to career diplomats serving abroad, such as the clause in her contract covering “a fully expensed house.”
A former ambassador told this paper that, when he worked in a number of different countries he lived in government paid accomodation, but a quarter of the rent amount would be deducted from his salary. This does not seem to be the case with Sai Mizzi Liang, whose accomodation allowance is over and above her pay package. Mrs Mizzi’s contract does not include any sort of capping on the spend on accomodation. It only statest that linen and pillows are not included.
The former ambassador said other perks, such as dental and opthalmic care and a one-time allowance for clothing, were always part of the ambassadorial packages, but what Sai Mizzi has been given is “not your standard package.” It is, the source said, “at the high-end of what ambassadors could be granted. Besides, Malta Enterprise envoys were never before given this level of salary and allowances.”
Not just a Scale 3 salary
Other sources pointed out that, despite having never denied the €13,000-a-month rumour before this week, the government had tried to mislead by saying that Sai Mizzi would be placed under Scale 3 of the Public Service – the standard scale for Ambassadors. Scale 3 has this year been revised to €34,684.
PM Joseph Muscat
But the Prime Minister revealed on Wednesday that Ms Mizzi Liang was also given a hefty allowance - €41,000 – that is usually given to Maltese Ambassadors to China, for a total of €74,000. And that is just the basic salary. Besides, only the first €34,000 are taxed, while the rest are tax-free.
Sai Mizzi payslip
Contract does not prove the PM’s point
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat surpisingly tabled Mrs Mizzi’s contract and pay-slip in Parliament on Monday evening. But the documents have raised more questions than they have provided answers.
Dr Muscat repeated on end that Mrs Mizzi Liang earns €3,700 a month, and not €13,000. But the Prime Minister was only quoting Mrs Mizzi’s post-tax deduction earnings, and not her gross income.
He also said that Mrs Mizzi earns as much as two former Maltese Ambassadors to China – Joe Cassar and Karl Xuereb – but they earned €74,000 a year, which works out at €6,166 per month. That sum does not include other allowances.
Konrad Mizzi
The Prime Minister insisted that Konrad Mizzi’s wife has the same salary and package afforded to the former ambassadors but on closer inspection, one finds that Mr Xuereb’s contract, as presented by Dr Muscat, makes no reference to either salary or perks, and Mr Cassar’s contract only speaks of his salary, which was Rmnbi 621,886 – or €73,570.
Richard Cachia Caruana
The Prime Minister also said Mrs Mizzi earned as much as Richard Cachia Caruana, Malta’s former permanent representative to the EU, used to earn. But Mr Cachia Caruana earned much more – around €143,000 per annum.
PN insists it was right saying Mizzi is paid €13,000 per month
Asia Envoy Sai Mizzi only pays tax on half of her income, the PN said, and the contract tabled in Parliament on Monday confirms her €13,000 a month salary.
In a statement, the PN said that the Prime Minister is choosing to defend the appointment of a minister’s wife, when such an appointment is indefensible and only take place in third world countries.
The Energy Minister’s wife Sai Mizzi “blatantly lied” to the media when she stated her monthly pay was a shade over €3,000, when in fact she earns double this, not including the many other perks in her contract, the PN said.
The PN pointed out that Mrs Mizzi is also being given a fully paid residence, excluding sheets, her own chauffer driven car topped up with fuel, schooling for her children estimated at €51,000 over three years, other allowances for her children at €8,700, a settlement allowance of €8,700 and a variety of other perks.
The Party said a conservative of all this perks is €475,000. When divided by her 36 months of contracted service, this amounts to €13,000.
“The Prime Minsiter is saying that Minister Konrad Mizzi’s wife is paid the same amount as an ambassador. There is already an ambassador to China in Clifford Borg Marks, and he was appointed by this government last August. Therefore, the question of €13,000 is not about an ambassador, but about a Minister’s wife,” the PN said.
Questions sent to the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday remained unanswered by the time of going to print.