There is a serious indication of a potential case of fraud in Opposition MP Toni Bezzina’s application for development on Outside Development Zone (ODZ) land in Mdina, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told One Radio this morning. 

Dr Muscat explained that according to the plans on the application the largest room should not exist since there currently stands a wall in its place. 

The allegation had originally been published  in Kulhadd. 

This, he said, also goes against PA policies which say that the amount of rooms an individual is able to acquire on ODZ land is relative to the amount of square metres the original structures hold. 

“Without the room the value of the land would be a lot less,” Dr Muscat said.  “What will Simon Busuttil do now after he stood up for Toni Bezzina on this political issue?” 

Toni Bezzina later released a statement categorically denying the allegations and claiming that the Labour Party media had manipulated the photographs.

He said that the room is 'clearly visible in aerial photos used by the Planning Authority'.

Bezzina went on to say that he will be filing libel proceedings against the Prime Minister and 'Kulhadd'.

The Prime Minister earlier took a moment to remember Nenu Buhagiar who passed away  on Saturday at the age of 96.

Dr Muscat said that he was  ‘a soldier of steel’ who was a popular figure in Gzira and a dedicated activist for the Labour Party.

‘He was an inspirational person who devoted himself physically and mentally to the Labour Party. People past and present talk about him with love and respect.’

***

In an interview aired later on the PL radio station, Dr Muscat said the government has worked for Malta to become the “best in Europe and aspire to be one of the best in the world” while the opposition is only interested in provocation and division.

The economy

The Prime Minister said that he believes that as the “most economically competent government in Malta’s history”, the people do not need to see the positive statistics for the EU Commission and IMF since they know that the country is improving as they can see that there is more work, more money going around, that bills are decreasing and that the hospital is becoming more efficient.

This, he said, is because the current government is not afraid to take decisions.

He explained that this is the main difference between the two major political parties. The Labour Party, he said, will always try to improve a person’s situation whereas the Nationalist Party expects everyone to be content with what they have.

“If someone went to the previous government and asked them for a better pay they would tell him to be happy that he actually has work, whereas now we always look to understand what the people want and deserve.”

“We really are the best in Europe, and we aspire to be one of the best in the world, as symbol in how to improve the economy”

The general election and Nationalist Party Strategy

“There is a clear choice for the population. I have no doubt if the opposition won next election the economy will stop growing since they do not understand how the economy works. People will lose jobs and there will be an increase in taxes,” Dr Muscat said.

The thing that worries him, the Prime Minister said, is the political strategy employed by the opposition.

“The leader of the opposition continuously questions the government on the figures of employment, bills etc. This is not a question of political interpretation as these are figures analysed by Eurostat and other international agencies. Let us debate on the country’s direction, on the policies. Ultimately they are doing us a favour since when the people hear him say that, they know he is not living in reality”

“Dr Busuttil is in a situation in which his political party wants to be in government, but does not have the political skill to do it. The only chance he has is to create a battle atmosphere between Labour and Nationalist supporters. He only has ideas of provocation and violence. We know the history and it shows that this is the strategy of PN.”

“Do the people who go to their meetings decide elections? No, it is the ones at home who examine and judge us based on the good work we do for their pockets and their family”
 
“I admit that I made a mistake by not speaking up earlier on the Panama story, but now I proved that the opposition lies, and those who lie are liars.”

“The PN have a dirty strategy as was seen this week when a PN candidate (David Thake) made serious allegations against Chris Fearne which was a complete lie. It is surreal.”

“I appeal to the opposition to the control the situation as we do not want to end up in an extreme situation that does not benefit anyone.”

“I spoke with a PN member, whose name I won’t mention, about where the party is going and we agreed that these dirty tactics will mean that young people will not enter politics out of fear that they may expose themselves and their family. This will only worsen the country for generations to come.”

Enemalta

Referencing Enemalta’s current ‘BB-’ rating by Standard and Poor’s, Dr Muscat said that the results of the changes the government made to energy company can already be seen since the price of electricity and water have gone down.

“We find simple solutions to difficult problems, and the people know it. Before we entered in government there was a minister who said that if someone were to buy it for one euro they would sell it. It was drowning it debt. If it failed there would have been massive repercussions on other institutions.”

The Prime Minister also said that he made sure that when he entered into government he met with Enemalta workers to assure them that while changes will be made their jobs would be safe, and that if they worked together progress would be achieved.

“We changed the business model completely. If anyone has a shop they know that if you lower the prices people will be encouraged to buy more.”

The report allows banks to have confidence. However, there is one risk mentioned in the report. It says that if there were a change in the energy policy then Enemalta would end up in the same situation as before. We have no intention to change the plan. I am certain that this comment is intended to refer to the opposition.

It is unacceptable that we have the Leader of the Opposition symbolically rip up a contract in the country’s highest institution. These are things that only happen in the third world. He has constitutional responsibility to discuss the merits of the contract.

Msida Car Bomb

The Prime Minister also faced a question concerning the car bomb in Msida last Monday.

“Speaking as a father, it is unacceptable that this happened on a busy street at that time when they can also kill and hurt people who are not involved at all.”

There is clear evidence of organized crime and the police corps are working on this very seriously. "I have spoken with Owen Bonnici to examine foreign legislation in order to see if we have a vacuum in laws relating to organized crime.”

The cabinet heard what the police commissioner had to say, and we gave him to ok to provide them with more resources. I cannot say what these resources are as they will assist those involved with this type of criminality.

“What I do not like is the opposition’s attempts to try to politicize this issue.”

PN reaction

In reaction a Nationalist Party statement said that "Since he has lost all sense of shame, Muscat says that the Nationalist Party is making the country into a third world country"

The truth, the statement says, is that politicians who use their power to steal is what makes the county a third world country.

"The Maltese population will soon have the chance to choose between a third world leader and a leader who works for our Maltese and European values."

A separate statement was issued by Toni Bezzina, who said that rather than telling the people who the owner of Egrant is, the PM "lies about me".

What Muscat said is the fabrication of a story and a manipulation of the truth, Mr Bezzina said.

The MP said that he will be filing for libel.