The government said yesterday that it was a pity Opposition Leader Alfred Sant had not accepted the Prime Minister’s suggestion for the appointment of a parliamentary committee to strengthen the fight against corruption. It said it was concluding that Dr Sant’s comments on corruption were only part of a spin strategy and a twisting of the facts.

Instead of replying to the invitation for collaboration, the government said, on Sunday morning the Opposition Leader had tried to ridicule the Prime Minister who was on a visit to Maltese migrants in Australia. Contacted in Australia, the Prime Minister said he preferred not to comment on what Dr Sant had said.

It had to be asked why the Opposition Leader’s attitude was so destructive in such a area, instead of being one of collaboration, the government said.

The government again invited Dr Sant to join it to strengthen the Permanent Commission against Corruption. As declared by the Prime Minister in parliament, the government was ready to appoint a House committee made up of two government members and two members from the opposition to draw up proposals that would strengthen the commission and give it greater powers.