The Nationalist party said that the government continues to refuse to assist irregular immigrants in clear, dangerous situations which could lead to lives lost, adding that Prime Minister Robert Abela and his government are "cut off from reality."

On Tuesday, PN MPs Beppe Fenech Adami and Graziella Attard Previ issued a statement saying that the PN deplores the behaviour of Abela's government, accusing it of ignoring international obligations and refusing to assist irregular migrants in danger of losing their lives.

The Malta Independent reported that a boat with approximately 400 migrants on board in Malta's Search and Rescue Zone, had called rescue hotline NGO Alarm Phone saying that it was struggling with 1.5m waves.

Rescue NGO Sea-Watch claimed that two merchant vessels were ordered by Malta not to rescue the migrant boat, and one of the vessels was asked "to only supply the boat with fuel." The Armed Forces of Malta told this newsroom in response to questions that no rescue was requested from the boat.

The PN said Abela's government must respond to the allegations made by the media and a number of NGOs. It said that government cannot take unilateral decisions when there is risk of lives being lost.

The PN reiterates that the challenge of immigration cannot be solved by remaining silent and indifferent.

"The immigration challenge is not solved by endangering the lives of innocent people, including women and children, simply to make a political point," it said.

It accused Abela's government of being cut off from reality.

"While the Nationalist Party continues to insist that the European Union should fully support Malta, as a country directly affected by the challenges of immigration, the government should always protect the lives of the people. We can never accept to let people drown in the middle of the sea under the pretext of some political point," it said.

The PN also said that government is sending conflicting messages when, while saying that Malta is too small to accommodate immigrants and refugees, it has drawn up its politics from the work of thousands of workers from third world countries.

The Nationalist party said that under a supposed socialist government, those who have millions can buy citizenship without any connection to Malta and those who do not, will be left to die.

"A serious government does not hide. A serious government responds. A serious government decides. A serious government fears for the name of our country," the PN said.