Former Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi has claimed that her 2024 removal from the chairmanship of Malita Investments plc occurred shortly after she confronted Housing Minister Roderick Galdes over what she described as improper interference in the company's affairs and overly familiar dealings with its contractors.
In a strongly worded Facebook post, Mizzi said she felt obliged to speak out after repeated reports by The Shift News referred to her "removal" from Malita in coverage of the company's current controversies. She insisted she had "nothing to do" with Malita's latest troubles and warned that vague references to her departure risked damaging her professional reputation.
Mizzi, who served as Malita chair until May 2024, said that during her tenure the company was "financially healthy" and upheld the "highest standards of corporate governance." Malita, a publicly listed company in which the state holds an 82 per cent stake, manages major government development and property projects.
Her dismissal, she said, came weeks after a meeting in Galdes's office where she challenged what she called his "interference in the workings of a plc" and his close contact with contractors hired by the company. "I stood up to him. Evidently he was not amused," she said, adding that she now considers it "an honour" to have been removed by the minister.
Since her departure, Malita has faced increasing financial strain despite posting more than €5 million in profit in the first half of 2025. Work on a large housing project in Ħal Farruġ has stalled due to cash flow problems, shareholders received no dividend last year, and several contractors claim they are owed millions.
The company has also seen significant turnover in its leadership: its CEO resigned months before its chief financial officer stepped down in April 2025, just 18 months into the role. Executive chair Johan Farrugia, who replaced Mizzi in 2024, assumed executive powers after the CEO's resignation.
Galdes has publicly dismissed concerns about Malita's financial health, telling the Times of Malta he was "not at all" worried and that the company was capable of managing its own affairs.
Mizzi, who previously chaired the defunct state entity Sea Malta, joined Malita's board in 2021 and became chair in 2022. She reiterated that her removal followed her objection to ministerial conduct, framing the episode as part of "history in the making."
Minister Galdes issued a statement on social media later in the day. He said: "In every communication I had with Malita, my sole interest was to reduce delays and ensure that public accommodation projects progress at a pace that is acceptable for the families awaiting them. The company has its own managerial structure, and as Minister my role has always been one of general political oversight, not operational intervention. That is my responsibility and my duty to the public."