Nationalist MP and former finance minister John Dalli is calling on the two whips of the House of Parliament to present a collective libel on behalf of all MPs against developer Victor Borg, who in a public hearing over his proposed development at Ta’ Cenc insinuated that he could have bribed MPs with “half a villa each”.
During last week’s hearing, Borg declared he had dropped townhouses, limited the villas to 38 and reduced his original proposal by 33 villas, “almost as many parliamentarians as we have.”
He later added that: “Had I given them (the MPs) half a villa each, we would probably not be here today, but I chose otherwise, because it is my right.”
Both whips expressed outrage at Borg’s comments when contacted by MaltaToday last week. “I am not only offended but hurt by any insinuation that parliamentarians are corruptible. If someone offered me a villa instead of a permit I would immediately report him to the police,” Nationalist MP Galea told MaltaToday.
Labour MP Joe Mizzi was more offended by the insinuation that even opposition MPs are corruptible. “Had he directed his remark at the government and MEPA I would not have been surprised. But what power does an opposition MP have in determining building permits?”
But Nationalist MP John Dalli is calling on the whips to go one step further. “Instead of grumbling in newspapers, the two whips should unite all MPs of both sides of the house and present a collective libel suit,” the former minister said speaking on Radio 101 last Sunday.
Contacted by MaltaToday, Dalli reiterated this suggestion. “Since Victor Borg did not single out anyone in particular, all MPs should take collective action.”
Another course which MPs could follow is to present a breach of privilege complaint.
But Joe Mizzi has already declared in l-Orizzont he has no intention of presenting such a complaint. “The Labour opposition does not issue development permits. Therefore what Borg said does not apply to us.”
Victor Borg is now saying he never meant to say that parliamentarians are corruptible, telling the Times of Malta that he “categorically denies ever having said that if we had a sufficient number of villas available we would have been able to bribe all Members of Parliament.”
He also declared that he has “the greatest respect for Parliament and do not think that any Member of Parliament can be bribed.”