"Jason Micallef's proposal to change the national anthem to a song from the Labour rock opera Ġensna smacks of the fake patriotism of a governing party which in the evening waxes lyrical Ġensna while in the morning it sells Maltese passports." - Peppi Azzopardi, 6 August

"It is not the uniform that is going to give them a service." - Malta Police union chairperson Marlon Hili, 6 August

"We cannot continue planning from one election to the next and lead in a management-by-crisis mode; we need to plan ahead for what is to come." - PN MP Mark Anthony Sammut, 13 August

"I gave all the money I had saved to the agent and I came to Malta. I could not go back to my country. My physical condition will not let me do hard work anymore." - Asian woman who settled in Malta, 20 August

"I will continue to keep fighting, however I do not wish to remain like this as we had too many plans and ideas of things to do." - Andrea Calleja, months after being injured while taking part in a sport competition, 20 August

"The St Paul's Bay local council receives funding for a population of 33,000 persons. Meanwhile, others, including myself, are sure that there are at least 45,000 permanent residents here." - Mayor Alfred Grima, 20 August

"It would have been better to spend €40m on patients, rather than Hollywood." - Martin Balzan, Medical Association of Malta president,  after it was reported that €46.7m was to be given in cash rebates to the company producing the Gladiator sequel film, 27 August

"Twenty-three parliamentary secretaries and ministers do nothing, others in authority do nothing, the local council can't do anything and this is all done intentionally because they want the popularity of local councils to decrease - especially PN-leaning councils." - Swieqi mayor Noel Muscat, 27 August

"I never expected that the culprit would go to prison, two wrongs do not make a right. It was an accident, and it can happen. But he was acquitted as if he killed a fly. That is something I do not want anyone to experience." - Moira Vassallo on fifth anniversary of her husband's  death following a traffic accident, 27 August

"We need a parliamentary secretary or somebody who is solely responsible for mental health. We need a National Strategy on Suicide and Prevention." - Former parliamentary secretary Mario Galea, 3 September

"We need to recognise that the educational problems which children keep dragging with them often begin at primary school." PN MP Justin Schembri, 3 September

"The existing infrastructure in St Julian's (San Giljan) is already struggling to cope with the mounting demand as the number of permanent residents grows... but it will become worse since more towers are being built and others are planned." - Mayor Guido Dalli, 10 September

"For people with accessibility issues, whether they are persons with disability or a parent with a pushchair... pavements are not safe. How can we speak about an accessible society and yet we don't even have accessible pavements" - Sociologist Michael Briguglio, 10 September

"It's totally disquieting that an abuse (social benefits fraud) that was rampant under the Gonzi PN administration that I thought would be over, is still running, and it's got to be stopped." - Labour MEP Alfred Sant, 17 September

"When we are dealing with clients who are already experiencing trauma, we need to facilitate the process, prevent re-victimisation and provide the necessary support in the most efficient and effective way possible." - Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence Commissioner Samantha Pace Gasan, 17 September

"We are bringing up a generation where it's as if failing is the biggest sin in the world." Gem16+ educator and guidance counsellor, Karl Galea, 24 September

"I made a lot of mistakes, and I truly and genuinely wish, for those who read my story to forgive me, and at least, wish me a better future. I believe I deserve another chance." - Kara Mohammed Bara on his 35 years of substance abuse before going on the path to recovery, 1 October

"There is no penalty for these empty properties which continue being built and put a burden on the country's infrastructure, electricity, sewage, roads, sidewalks."  ADPD-The Green Party secretary general Ralph Cassar, 1 October