The chairman of the Valletta Cultural Agency, Jason Micallef, is suggesting that Malta should have a new national anthem to replace the one written by Dun Karm Psaila.

In a post on Facebook, Micallef said that while attending the funeral of writer Ray Mahoney, his thoughts went to the song that Mahoney had written for the rock opera Gensna, called Tema 79, which he thinks should become the new national anthem.

“With respect to the national anthem written by Dun Karm Psaila (with music by Robert Samut) I believe that the extraordinary and mystical Tema 79, lyrics by Ray Mahoney and music by Paul Abela, should be the new national anthem of our country,” he wrote.

The people’s reaction to this song, whoever they are and whatever the occasion, “without exception” is one of great emotions and strong national sentiment that is hard to describe, he added.

The song has all the ingredients to become the national anthem, he said.

His suggestion is bound to create controversy, as the rock opera Gensna is seen by many as a symbol of the Labour Party. Tema 79 is sung by Mary Spiteri. 

The Maltese national anthem was written in 1922 and was adopted when Malta became an independent nation in 1964.