Nationalist Party Leader Simon Busuttil has said that he is not surprised at the revelations published today by The Malta Independent on Sunday, regarding suspicions of kickbacks by the FIAU over the Enemalta privatization.

Dr Busuttil was addressing a crowd in Mellieha during a political event for the party's campaign, in the run up to the snap general election next Saturday 3 June.

"I am angry we are living in a country where these things happen," he said, "I cannot say I am surprised though."

Today, The Malta Independent revealed that suspicions of kickbacks over Enemalta's privatization have been flagged by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit in a damning report, parts of which were leaked to this newspaper.

 

"Everything happens coincidentally," he said in a sarcastic tone. " Let me remind you that coincidentally, Cheng Chen also opened a company in the British Virgin Islands, and Brian Tonna opened the account, the same person who opened Konrad Mizzi's account in Panama."

The article also quotes the FIAU report in saying that, "on the basis of information obtained through Dr Konrad Mizzi's credit card activity, Dr Mizzi travelled to China 17 times during the period 10/09/2013 to 24/03/2016. It was noted that despite having family in China he stayed in hotels for at least 16 of these trips. This fact combined with the use of his official card indicates that these trips to China were State related visits."

With reference to this information, Dr Busuttil said that Konrad Mizzi travelled on all these trips with taxpayer's money. "How much work did he have to do in China?" he asked.

Commenting on the editorial titled 'The Need For Change' which started on the front page of The Sunday Times of Malta this morning, Dr Busuttil noted that it is not usual for editorials to begin on the front page. "We have arrived at this point!" he stated.

Refering to today's interview with former CEO of the Foundation for Tomorrow's Schools  Philip Rizzo published by The Sunday Times of Malta, Dr Busuttil said "Joseph Muscat saw corruption and instead of tackling it, turned his face the other way." "The fault is not of those who voted for Joseph Muscat last election but the fault of Joseph Muscat," he said.

Dr Busuttil repeated his pledge that if elected, the Nationalist Party will immediately begin investigation all alleged corruption cases.

"Next Saturday we have a historical decision to make," he repeated, "it is a choice for the future of our country." 

Dr Busuttil mentioned his condemnation towards a Picture of Joseph Muscat depicted as an individual with Down's Syndrome making its way around social media, saying that such acts are unacceptable. "This act is something I condemn unreservedly," he said "Individuals with disabilities cannot be used in this way. I condemn this as I also condemned the attacks on the children of the Prime Minister. This is unacceptable!" he stated.

Speaking prior to Nationalist Party Leader Simon Busuttil, Nationalist MP Marthese Portelli spoke about the Nationalist Party's electoral pledges with regards to the environment. She called the party's pledge to safeguard ODZ land as  'groundbreaking'.

The pledge states that decisions to build on ODZ land will be avoided, and where necessary, the decision will need to be decided by 2/3 government. "I am proud to form part of Forza Nazzjonali to find balance between built and rural environment," she said. 

She repeated the pledge that prices of Petrol and Diesel will be reduced by 5c/litre, and the promise to keep prices under the European mean."We have seen studies regarding petrol consumption in Malta, and calculations show that with this decrease in price, we will give €22,000,000 back to the public," she said.

 

This morning, Nationalist Party Leader Simon Busuttil is addressing a political event in Misrah il-Parrocca, Mellieha as part of his electoral campaign under the title 'I Choose Malta'.

We have now entered the final week of the campaigns in the run up towards the snap general election on 3 June.