I Had Important Commitments, Aaron Farrugia Explains After Missing Parliament Questions On Transport Malta Beating
Infrastructure Minister Aaron Farrugia has explained he couldn’t make it to last Tuesday’s Parliament sitting to face questions about an assault by Transport Malta officials due to “other commitments”.
Farrugia also addressed the assertions that were being pushed by the Opposition, and assured that he has “no issue replying to questions on the incident, as I have been doing so with the media at the very moment”.
The incident being referred to is that of two Transport Malta officials filmed beating up a man lying down on the road. The consequent parliamentary sitting was suspended after Farrugia failed to show up for parliamentary questions.
“I always showed respect to the House, I attend Parliament regularly and I am always there to answer any parliamentary questions unless pressing ministerial matters to prevent me from doing so. Such instances are rare,” Farrugia told Lovin Malta.
“But due to a number of important commitments on Tuesday, I informed the whip that I will most likely not be able to attend Parliament during parliamentary questions,” he said, omitting what said commitments consisted of.
“However, between one commitment and another, including a meeting in the vicinities at 4.20pm, I arrived at Parliament a few minutes after 4pm.”
“Members of the press were outside of Parliament and asked questions related to the case. I had no problem giving my statements to the press regarding the incident, as I had done so earlier in the day as well. ”
“Since it took some time to reply to these questions, by the time I entered Parliament it was already almost time for my scheduled meeting. I conversed with some colleagues outside of the House and left Parliament to attend this meeting.”
“I returned back to Parliament after this meeting was over – which was around 6.30,” Farrugia concluded.
The two Transport Malta officials in the video have been suspended from their jobs and police have opened an investigation.
What do you make of Farrugia’s comments?
READ NEXT: Five People Killed At Queer Nightclub Shooting In Colorado Springs
