Opposition leader Simon Busuttil issued a video message on Sunday, calling on the authorities to do their duty and investigate Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi and the PM's Chief of Staff Keith Schembri. Dr Busuttil said that the Prime Minister has remained silent on the issue of Mr Mizzi and Mr Schembri owning companies in Panama - a blacklisted tax haven. He said that the situation has now got even worse as allegations have surfaced that the PM's Chief of Staff's company made 'secret payments' to Allied Group of newspapers Managing Director .On its front page, The Sunday Times of Malta stated that it willlaunch an independent inquiry into Managing Director Adrian Hillman, who has since gone out on indefinite leave. Acting Managing MD Michael Rizzo would proceed with an independent inquiry into the actions of Mr Hillman, but would not comment further. Mr Hillman chose not to comment.

Dr Busuttil said that what is happening in Malta at present is grave and without precedent. He said that there was never an occasion where allegations of corruption in the heart of Castille relating to two of the Prime Minister's closest lieutenants, which therefore touches the Prime Minister himself.

"Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri both have secret companies in Panama, a country known for hiding money, and they opened them while they were in office. These companies were opened to deposit money into them. Everyone is capable of drawing their own conclusions," he said.

Dr Busuttil said everyone knows how much power Konrad Mizzi has. "But what everyone does not know is that the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, Keith Schembri, is the brains behind Joseph Muscat. All decisions have to go through him, everything has to have his blessing. He is the Prime Minister behind the Prime Minister," said Dr Busuttil.

It is useless for the Prime Minister to try and deflect attention. "Enough laughing in our faces. The simple fact that the companies were opened is enough for their immediate dismissal," said Dr Busuttil.

"And no, Mr Prime Minister, it is not enough to tell us that you are going to order an audit. You do not need an audit to tell you that it is wrong to set up companies in blacklisted countries such as Panama when you are a minister or when you are the head of the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff," said Dr Busuttil. "All you need is common sense to see that," he said.

He then turned to allegations that Keith Schembri had paid cash to corrupt a person within the Times of Malta, which is owned by Allied Newspapers. He was referring to Adrian Hillman.

He said that everyone in Malta knows that the Times was always a pillar of democracy in Malta, even in the most difficult periods in Malta's history. "I am convinced that it still is and will continue to be."

He said that the Times gave a serious response to the situation by immediately suspending the person in question until investigations into the matter are concluded. "What did the Prime Minister do? He said nothing, let alone dismiss Keith Schembri,"said Dr Busuttil.

He addressed Dr Muscat directly in his video message: "Prime Minister, you are falling well short of doing your duty by not removing Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri from the positions they hold and continuing to defend them. This means that you, Prime Minister, are not capable of knowing the difference between right and wrong. This means that you, Prime Minister, are as responsible as they are."

Dr Busuttil said he would now do three things, the first of which was to appeal to all authorities on the island. "For goodness sakes, do your duty. The people are depending on you to immediately take action against Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri, you must do your duty," he said.

The second thing he will do, he said, is to turn to all influential people on the island; responsible politicians, political parties, leaders of constituted bodies, trade unions, civil society, businesspeople, academics, professionals and journalists who believe that Maltese people deserve to live in a normal country.

"If you believe that Maltese and Gozitans deserve to live in a serene, stable and democratic country, now is the time to use your voice, before we continue down this slippery slope to the very bottom," said Dr Busuttil.

The opposition leader said he was turning to each and every Maltese and Gozitan of goodwill, each and every patriot, for support. "For goodness sakes, let us lead our country out of this alleyway that they have steered us into. I am offering myself and all my determination to clean out our country's political system once and for all. I am putting the Nationalist Party forward as an alternative government which will clean this dirt out once and for all," he said.

"Our country is calling out to us. We have the duty to answer that call," he said.