I don’t have the slightest doubt that it is. It is a threat to our sovereignty, our democracy and our independence. Dr Joseph Muscat is not only selling his soul, he is also selling ours, as he is selling our citizenship. Why? For money and his personal political stature. He is probably the most revered western leader in Beijing since Mintoff in the seventies (sic) But reverence does not come without a price tag, unless, possibly, it refers to saints (the real ones in Heaven). As we say in Maltese, “qed ihares biss lejnil-ponta ta’ mniehru” (he’s only looking as far as the tip of his nose), or am I naïve? What is there in all this? What is there in so many other strange and irrational goings on in Malta. Are there undue influences, are there holds, are there gifts?

Now don’t  for a moment think that as a true Maltese national I am not in favour of direct  or indirect foreign investment, or would not like an efficient, economical power station (with lower tariffs), or, perhaps (?), a bridge to Gozo, but I am also very wary, even scared, of the massive investment coming from China. Why all these giveaways by the Chinese communist regime? Yes, I am scared of dominance. I am scared of a large Chinese presence in Malta, as I was when the Red China Dock was being built, watching these regimented comrades toing and froing on those horrible old military buses from their lodgings at the Embassy in St. Julians. The fact that they now wear jackets and ties instead of Chinese collars makes them no different.

And I am scared of introducing Chinese as a language to be taught in our schools. Mintoff all over again; introducing the teaching of Arabic to placate his barbaric Libyan friend. Obviously our non-discerning brothers and sisters (including the famous switchers) and blinkered Labour folk would say “kemm hu bravu, x’gabilna” (how clever he is, what he brought for us). But I say beware before it is too late. There may come a day when we will regret it. Money is not all – and this also applies to the sale of our passports, a controversial issue that seems to have blown away with the wind.

I am somewhat confused about this issue of state funding of political parties. It is an issue that has been on the cards for many years. It is being proposed by the PN, but must be read side by side with the other twin issue of controlling donations to parties, the latter being the subject of a White Paper launched by Minister of Justice Owen Bonnici (whom I call “the man who gets things done”). There is no doubt that big businessmen do not give hefty donations to political parties (and some to both) just for the heck of it. They expect something in return – either what they believe is the best party to create a favourable environment and opportunities for their particular business or else to knock on the right doors after the election for specific favours or even large contracts; “hej, it’s payback time!”

It would seem that it was the Labour Party that benefitted most from the generosity of big boys during the last general elections – or perhaps its friends in the Far East (I do not need to explain). Who knows; and this thought is just coming to me. Food for a lot of thought – consumed with chop sticks of course. Accordingly, there is absolutely no doubt that donations should be controlled and all records of receipts strictly audited. This is one effective way of curbing corruption, of which we have spoken and written so much about for decades.

The issue of state funding confuses me because it has its pros and cons. On the one hand, it will also help curb abuse and corruption in terms of the donations we just referred to. It will also support political parties which are, after all, providing a crucial and essential service to the country. No political parties or weak political parties will lead to anarchy, not governance and democracy. Yet how will this state aid be established? Will it be equal for all parties, large and small, or depending on the size and strength of the party? And how to gauge the strength or size of a party?Membership?Dangerous. Cooking of books?Difficult to audit. And should a party get state funds during an election campaign or after being elected, meaning that a party that is not elected will get nothing? Because if a parties get funds (and perhaps equal funds) during a campaign, then I might very well set up my own or join “tal-Ajkla”. That is why the PN’s proposal to set up a Working Group to discuss state funding is appropriate, whatever the timing, which Owen Bonnici feels is not now.