The Malta Developers Association (MDA) has urged the Nationalist Party not to “politicise” the controversy surrounding Planning Authority Executive Chairperson Johann Buttigieg, calling for a fact-based debate and political responsibility.

The MDA said Buttigieg had “succeeded in making a profound difference” at what it described as one of the most challenging authorities and one that had historically posed a major hurdle for governments.

The association’s comments came after the PN called on Prime Minister Robert Abela to state what action he intended to take regarding Buttigieg’s continued leadership of the Planning Authority.

The PN said Buttigieg had stated that anyone who objected to his continued leadership of the Authority should raise the matter with the Government that appointed him. The party also said that around 34 entities, including environmental and civil society organisations, youth and student organisations and residents’ associations, had called for Buttigieg to step down.

The PN has maintained that responsibility for the matter rests with the Prime Minister and asked Abela whether he intended to take action.

The MDA, meanwhile, said that to gain the trust of Maltese and Gozitan businesses and investors, the PN should focus on proposing reforms and explaining how they would be implemented rather than, in its words, “succumbing to the temptation of jumping on the populist bandwagon”.

The association said it had consistently advocated for good governance and had not shied away from speaking out when necessary.

It called on all political parties to act responsibly and avoid drawing conclusions based on “mere suspicions and unproven allegations”.

The MDA said the discussion should remain fact-based, particularly when dealing with sensitive situations involving public authorities and their leadership.