Politicians should work for all the Maltese and Gozitans, not just for the people in their district, PL MP Oliver Scicluna told The Malta Independent on Sunday.

“We should lead by example because certain people will not stop asking favours for votes. Our duty is to legislate and only communicate with people to guide them and get feedback from them,” he said.

He was contacted by this newsroom following a Facebook post he posted. Scicluna had taken to Facebook to express his offence at people offering him their vote in exchange for favours, saying that this is a practice and mentality which needs to stop.

Scicluna, who has been an MP for almost a year now, after he was co-opted to replace Gavin Gulia, said that this is one of the things in politics which has been around for a long time but which he would never get used to. So many individuals come up to me and tell me that if I help them they will “think of me”. He said that this is a phrase and sentiment which makes him feel uneasy, not necessarily because he would not want to help, but because he believes that people should only get what they think is theirs by right if they actually have a right for it.

Asked about his post, Scicluna told this newsroom that he is a person who speaks his mind. “I do so after having taken time to think about an issue."

"It is high time that politicians start talking about these things and not be afraid to speak about them as they fear losing some votes. That is my point of departure."

The reason he speaks about such things, he said, is as he does not fear losing votes. "What has to happen will eventually happen; I have no control over that."

"On another note, if I were to be elected, I would prefer to be elected by people who believe that I can do something good, that I am capable of making a good contribution to the country, rather than because I would give them something."

Scicluna said that the post he wrote was mainly aimed at politicians, not the public. He said that people follow politicians.

"I saw some PN exponents celebrating because of what I wrote, saying that I am in the wrong party, etc. But sorry, the point of departure was their fault, and we continued."

PL deputy leader Daniel Micallef had agreed with Scicluna’s Facebook post. Micallef said: “To change culture, we need to change the (electoral) system. It’s important not to let the system change you."

Asked what he thinks about this statement, that a change in the electoral system is needed, Scicluna said: "I agree with him, but not only. The change would help, but the mentality needs to change too.”

He questioned whether, in order to change the way we do things, we would need to change the systems and laws. “Can't we change ourselves? I believe I am asking for too much.”

“There are many people who reacted and agreed with me, but think that I am stomping my feet on this issue for nothing. I don't blame them for thinking that way, as this is a situation that has been going on for many years and it is as though everyone is happy with the status quo. And you realise how happy everyone is – when you look at the posts the populace wrote me and you see very few politicians commenting.” Those politicians, who did comment, include Daniel Micallef, candidate Rachel Scicluna “and PN MP Mario Galea who wrote to me personally agreeing with me".

Scicluna said politicians are afraid to speak. 

In his Facebook post he had mentioned people approaching him for favours, which is what led him to posting his original message against such action.

Scicluna told this newsroom that for him, a person’s vote is sacrosanct and that everyone should vote who they want, privately – a vote is something secret. 

“I am not telling people not to go to politicians. People come to us for guidance. I guide so many people in terms of what they need to do etc. but I guide them, they are not going to tell me to jump the queue for them or say 'take care of me', I don't do these things. These things are ridiculous.”

Asked for some examples of what people have asked him in return for a vote, he mentioned people asking for jobs, adding that he immediately tells people no for such a request and that it is something he cannot help them with. Another classic example politicians get is over requests for social housing, he added. "Everyone expects to have social housing. Why does everyone expect this? Because that is how they are accustomed. When I was 20 and started working, I took a loan and am still paying it off like others are." He argued that if one person is given such housing in return for a vote, then others will ask why they weren't. "Social housing should only be given to those who are in need of it, those who can’t cope in life because of their social background; those who need help. Those who can afford it, even if they have to make certain sacrifices, like myself and others, should not opt for social housing. Mentalities need to change." 

He said that jobs and housing are the two things people ask for most.

"Politicians should not interfere in the work of government entities. They should work for all the Maltese and Gozitans, not just for the people in their district. We should lead by example because certain people will not stop asking favours for votes."

"Our duty is to legislate and only communicate with people to guide them and get feedback from them."

He made a differentiation for those who are meant to have something by right. Scicluna said that if there is someone who deserves something, then he would fight for them, for example, if someone is discriminated against. "Many people who come to me are persons with disabilities or their families, and many of them are discriminated against. I fight for them to take what they should be taking (...) but this is not a case of me expecting them to vote for me just because I am fighting for them, no way. Nationalists come to me and they feel comfortable enough to tell me that they are Nationalist Party supporters. People, who are not from my district, also come to me. I don't stay asking people where they are from or tell them I would not help them if they don't tell me."

He was asked for a message for his fellow MPs and how, in his opinion, this problem could be overcome.

"They need to be courageous and agree with the argument I am making; as if they will not agree, the status quo system we are in will end up breaking us. The country had a booming economy in the past years, but this has nothing to do with that. This is getting the message across to youths and people who are getting annoyed with politics. I speak with many people who are annoyed with politics and the majority of them are youths. Why does politics bother them? As the tribal politics we have translates into all of this."

"I am not saying everything is bad, many good things were done. I accepted to join the Labour Party as an MP as I believe it is the most progressive party – the Party that could bring about change and the Party that lets you speak out the most. I didn't receive any negative feedback from the Party internally over what I said. They did not stop me from speaking."

Asked whether his message will affect his chances in the coming election, and whether he thinks it would have a positive or negative effect, he said he did not care. "I'm ready to lose votes, I'm ready not to be elected as long as my conscience remains clean and that our children will have a much better Malta than we are now living in. If we don't speak about these things, to fix the system, our children will suffer from the status quo. We changed so many things as a government, we were courageous on many issues and I believe that, as a government, we can also go head first into this system, and change the electoral system. Obviously, you would need a two-thirds majority for this and the Opposition would need to agree. But we have to have the courage."