Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis should immediately recuse himself from the Parliamentary Committee for Standards in Public Life whenever the committee discusses an issue related to Yorgen Fenech.

The chat messages that have emerged over recent weeks between the two, which occurred after it became publicly known that Yorgen Fenech was the owner of the company 17 Black, show just how close the two were.

Currently, the Standards’ Committee is looking into an ethics breach by MP Rosianne Cutajar. The former Parliamentary Secretary allegedly pocketed tens of thousands of euro in a failed property deal she helped broker, in which Fenech was the prospective buyer. The Qormi politician allegedly also received some €9,000 from Fenech as a gift. Cutajar, who lost her Cabinet post in February of this year, denies taking the funds.

For MPs to decide on an ethics breach on their colleagues is already not easy enough to do, given that they might be close friends. But if one of the Committee members is found to have also had a close relationship with a third party involved in the said breach, then how can that member possibly be impartial?

In such situations, that committee member should not take part in the Standards Committee’s proceedings on that particular case. The case for Zammit Lewis on this issue regarding Rosianne Cutajar is clear-cut, he should not form part of that committee.

In addition, the minister’s own actions are questionable to start off with. Why did he maintain such a cosy messaging relationship after the 17 Black revelations were published?

In comments to The Malta Independent, the Speaker of the House of Representatives said that process for a recusal has to be initiated by one of the committee members and that he cannot take a position on the matter on his own initiative.

In an ideal world, the politicians who actually sit on this committee should have impeccable records and not be in the middle of a scandal themselves. The MPs who form the committee should be beyond reproach.

Questions also surround the whole jobs situation. Zammit Lewis did not deny going to Yorgen Fenech to try and find jobs for his constituents, but said that he has always acted within the limits of what is right. Many people go to politicians asking for jobs in Malta, and this is a practice that should truly stop. It is not ethically right for politicians to oblige such requests. Offering public jobs for votes is an ethical no-no, and going to private businessmen asking for jobs on behalf of someone who approached them shows way too close a bond between that politician and the businessman in question.

There is a difference between being pro-business and being overly close to specific business people. The latter could give rise to corruption if left unchecked.