The Prime Minister has reacted to a story published in this newspaper relating to a report which recommends pay rises for full time Members of Parliament by saying that he did not agree with the proposal and was not after a pay increase.
The commission, made up of Ombudsman Joseph Said Pullicino, Auditor General Anthony C. Mifsud and Chief Electoral Commissioner Saviour Gauci, was appointed by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in April 2013. The report was handed back in December 2013 but has been kept under wraps for over a year.
The Prime Minister said that he did not agree with pay increases for MPs, but also said that the report contained other valid suggestions. But it begs the question, why keep it under wraps for a year?
The mooting of a full time parliament has long been put forward and Maltese society seems to believe that the general public would get more value for money out of parliament if there was such a system.
It is quite obviously clear that the PM did not want the issue to blow up in his face, especially after the PL had made a fuss in opposition when the government of the time had decided to introduce honoraria for MPs, then extended it to cabinet members. The general public expressed anger at the decision and the PL in opposition rode that wave, despite the fact that it had been informed in advance that the changes were to be made.
One can understand the PM's reaction to his report. But then why not just publish it straight away and say outright that while he did not believe in the proposal to increase the pays of MPs, he would consider other valid points that had been made. There is no shame in that whatsoever.
We must also question why - if the points were indeed as valid as the PM says - he has not taken action on them, given that the report has been gathering dust on a shelf at OPM for over a year?
TMI published the information which it had, and only then did the Prime Minister issue his official reaction. It doesn't quite add up.
Dr Muscat and his advisors surely understand that just because a report is drawn up, not all suggestions or proposals have to be implemented. Equally, a report's recommendations do not have to be implemented in their entirety. The Prime Minister calls the shots, he could have turned round and said; "I approve (a),( b) and (c), but I will not approve proposal (d)".
Something needs to be done about the workings of the Maltese Parliament. As things stand, we have part time MPs and a full time Cabinet. Attendance is not compulsory and many who have lucrative professions probably enjoy the status quo, with a substantial number skipping parliament hearings and just attending as and when they please. This is why a full time parliament is needed. People do not mind politicians being paid more to reflect their duties and responsibilities, but what they do want is transparency and value for money.