PL backbencher Silvio Grixti was on the receiving end of a direct order worth €37,200 from Transport Malta, data published in the Government Gazette shows.

Grixti, a family doctor by profession, was given the direct order for “consultancy fees” by Transport Malta.

He was elected to Parliament in 2017 on the third district, but has no role in Robert Abela’s Cabinet.  He does however sit on four parliamentary committees – that for Family Affairs, for Social Affairs, for Public Appointments, and the Health Committee, which he chairs.

An MP’s onoraria – or rather the salary he gets for being in parliament – is in the region of between €20,000 and €25,000, with backbenchers being seen as holding a part-time role.

Replying to questions from The Malta Independent on Sunday, both Grixti and Transport Malta said that the MP is engaged to "provide medical direction to the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Unit (DVLU) on medical cases of clients who apply or renew their driving licences."

"I provide this consultation on approximately 40 to 50 files per week, besides emails, telephone calls regarding any medical ailment regarding safety and fitness to drive", Grixti told this newsroom.

"I determine whether the patient/client is fit to drive and identify their adequacy to be issued with a driving licence until the next medical review is due.  I also review detailed medical reports regarding the patients' medical conditions vis a vis safety to drive," he added.

Transport Malta told this newsroom that customers are not charged extra for this service, with the costs being borne by the authority itself.

Grixti said that he had been providing this service to Transport Malta since 2016.

The contract is one of a huge number of direct orders dished out by the authority, which falls under the remit of Transport Minister Ian Borg.

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