Independent candidate Arnold Cassola has requested the Standards Commissioner to investigate Education Minister Clifton Grima.

The Standards Commissioner’s seat is still vacant after George Hyzler took on an appointment as Malta’s representative on the European Court of Auditors.

Cassola’s request will be seen to when the new commissioner is appointed.

In a statement, Cassola said Grima refused to reveal the audit which gave Sadeen's AUM a lifeline to continue functioning.  Despite previous assurances that this audit would be made public before AUM had its licence renewed, Minister Clifton Grima did not answer a parliamentary question about it.

Instead he referred to a website which he said had published it. This was not the case, Cassola said.

Cassola has asked the Office of the Standards  Commissioner to investigate the case and why “Parliament has been misled".

We cannot continue with this culture of impunity where anything goes and Ministers mislead the public. If the Standards Commissioner is serious about ethics and transparency  this will be his first test, Cassola said.