Former Opposition Leader Adrian Delia has taken exception to a comment posted by independent MP Arnold Cassola about politicians not paying their dues.

Posting on Facebook, Delia said that he has never taken bribes, never received illicit commissions and never evaded tax.

Cassola had earlier commented about the reasons given by Finance Minister Clyde Caruana on income lost by the government through undeclared taxes. Caruana said that this amounted to half a billion euro in 10 years, Times of Malta reports.

Minister Clyde Caruana stated that there are two reasons for this, Cassola wrote.

“First, the calculations were cumulative, meaning that unsettled dues continued to be counted in subsequent years.

“Secondly, there has been a year-on-year increase in foreign workers, some of whom were either not aware of their initial tax reporting obligations, or left Malta before their first tax declaration was due.

“Clyde Caruana conveniently forgot a third reason: politicians not declaring their income, bribes or senseriji (commissions) or not paying their tax dues within stipulated times,” Cassola wrote, putting Delia in a list of people “as examples”.

In his reply, Delia said every politician should give a public account of their position.

“I did on mine. Today. In the past years. Always will. I have been the most public and transparent with my finances and submitted myself to a thorough due diligence. I invite you and every politician to do the same.

“Public comment and cross criticism is not only acceptable but desirable in a democratic society. “False allegations and misleading the public through generic and indirect association is not. Indeed, it’s untruthful and unfair towards the electorate,” Delia wrote.