There were smiles and jokes all around earlier this week when pictures of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat taking part in university graduation celebrations, regaled in a colourful toga, started doing the rounds on the social media.

Others were curious to know why the Prime Minister was attending a University of Malta ceremony. After all, we had never seen a Prime Minister attend such a ceremony before.

This newspaper contacted the University of Malta yesterday, and was told that it is normal practice for the university to invite the Prime Minister to take part in the ceremonies. This was, however, the first time that Muscat accepted the invitation, and he attended four of the ceremonies.

We believe that the presence of the Prime Minister, irrespective of the person holding that role and the party they come from, is not warranted at university graduation events. The two things simply do not mix.

Muscat's participation in the ceremonies becomes more dubious at a time when a controversial University of Malta Act is coming under heavy fire by academics.

The Bill will effectively decrease the powers of the University rector and staff and transfer it to a governing board, whose members will be appointed by the Prime Minister. Unsurprisingly it is being said that this board will be an extension of the Office of the Prime Minister - allowing Castille to take over the university, which is supposed to be autonomous.

The Education Minister has insisted that this is not the case, but we do not buy it. And the fact that the Prime Minister, who has always been invited, only accepted to do so this year, only adds to the skepticism.

It is no wonder that Muscat's presence at these ceremonies is being regarded by some as a not so subtle hint that the government is strong arming this institution as well.

This is not the first time that the government has been accused of acting like a totalitarian regime that extends its powers by hijacking the institutions. The way the police force is run, how army promotions are handed out to win favour and votes, and political meddling in the judiciary are more reminiscent of the tactics used in countries like North Korea.

Speaking of which, it is only in countries like North Korea where leaders are idolized to the point where their national orchestras stage concerts based on the "Prime Minister's Playlist."

No, this is not a joke. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra is really organizing a concert with "a varied selection of pop and rock tunes, featuring the Prime Minister's favourite choice of timeless hits."

The concert, to be held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, was a joint idea of the MPO's management and top officials from the Office of the Prime Minister, the Times reported, and the idea was accepted by Joseph Muscat.

Music critics who spoke to the Times described said this was another attempt to create a personality cult and described the concert as an "odd" idea. We believe they were being too generous.

The MPO's feeble attempt to exalt the Prime Minister is nothing short of shameless.

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra is a musical ensemble that usually does the nation proud, but in this case, it is stooping to very low levels. MPO Executive Chairman Sigmund Mifsud, a failed Labour election candidate, should know better than this.

The concert is being marketed as a "unique" event. And unique it will be, for the event will surely only appeal to people of a certain political leaning.

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra should never be used for such blatant partisan events.