Silence by government  on Air Malta raises many doubts, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said today during a meeting with the MHRA.

The MHRA presented its pre-budget document, where MHRA CEO Andrew Agius Muscat said that the document is based on three initiatives - manufacturing, financial services and tourism.

Angrew Agius Muscat said that the MHRA is working on a long-term strategy for economic growth, and mentioned the importance of the authorities fine-tuning their strategies for Malta not only to see economic growth, but also develop the economy.

For his part, the Opposition Leader said that the PN has three points to bring up.

The first regards Air Malta. Dr Busuttil said that while the PN will continue to back the restructuring plan, however the PN is not being informed and kept up to date by government, "and this silence raises a number of doubts, especially when discussions surround downsizing and other times news breaks of new people being employed with the company".

The second point surrounds electricity tariffs and fuel costs. "The PN agrees with the constituted bodies who are requesting a reduction in electricity prices, and this in light of the reduction in the international oil price and government paying for less electricity through the Interconnector and the BWSC power station. This is important for operators in order for them not to find themselves in difficulty when competing with foreign countries who pay lower prices".

The PN's third point focused on security. "14,000 residency permits were issued last year alone to persons from outside the European Union". Dr Busuttil said that institutionalized corruption is apparent