Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1498223
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 APRIL 2023 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Growing and dangerous arrogance THESE last months, we are seeing how Labour politicians are moving away from being servant leaders to becoming self-centred, self-loving, and spending too much time absorbed in themselves, or what is in it for themselves, instead of being there and serving their people. The people who voted them into office do not need the arrogance, nor do they need to be treated in that egotistical manner. Political arrogance is becoming a symp- tom of contemporary politics. The idea of embracing political humility has come to be regarded as a symptom of political weakness rather than strength despite a willingness to entertain alternative ide- as and contemplate full-scale political change. Was it not prime minister Abela who, immediately after his last resound- ing electoral victory, pledged that arro- gance will not be tolerated? Political arrogance is becoming an ad- junct to political debate. It is manifesting itself as a method of simply points-scoring in the public arena with the aim of simply looking to impress at the expense of the ruling majority's political opponents. It is the supreme form of political hubris. We are more divided than we have been in decades, cleaved asunder by partisan sorting, economic inequality, and ram- pant clientelism. If history is any guide, a society cannot long withstand this state of affairs. Not only, but whoever is in his right senses is getting the urge to want to shut up a number of Labour Party diehards who are simply arrogant, cocky politicians that do more harm than good when they open their mouths. It is becoming in- creasingly difficult to see past the image of politicians without evoking perceptions of political arrogance. Many of them are tantalizing storytell- ers, as they mix facts with fiction, grab our emotions and tell things they want us to believe. Their factoids are unremittingly reiterated, take a life on their own and in the end become the very truth. There will come a time when the bubble will burst. I am perceiving a good dose of over- confidence in some of our ministers that is dangerously deluding them into dangerous thoughts or actions, and that same arrogance seems to be spreading to others. Politics that is not sensitive to the concerns and circumstances of people's lives, that does not speak to and include people, is an intellectually arrogant poli- tics that deserves to fail. There was a legend about the sun never setting on the British Empire, but it collapsed when the common man united. Similarly, the common man has the capacity to teach Labour a lesson for displaying the arrogance of power just be- cause of its majority in Parliament, and its days could be numbered if the common man united against it. Mark Said, LL.D Msida Campus Hub audit REFERENCE is made to the Sunday, 23 April edition of MaltaToday ('Serious doubts' on tender process fairness). Un- fortunately, this article fails to present the readers with a fair rendition of the NAO report on the Campus Hub, quot- ing phrases out of context thus sacrific- ing truth on the altar of sensationalism. The reference to the lack of consulta- tion with FMS is a case in point. The ar- ticle quoted the statement in paragraph 4.3.6 but for some reason totally ignores the facts listed in subsequent paragraphs 4.3.8 and 4.3.11, namely that way back in 2011, University had envisaged the space shortage at Mater Dei and had proposed a solution which solution was an integral part of its Master Plan. The article's heading tries to shed doubts on the award process by picking up on the NAO observation that the change of plans following the award could have favoured the chosen bidder against other potential bidders. Unfortunately, the article fails to quote other sections of the report which clearly stated that such changes were either the result of changes requested to the plans by the Planning Authority (which chang- es were allowed under the RfP (Request for Proposal) and thus could be availed of by any bidder) or changes in the lo- cation of services within the complex as highlighted in table 15 of the report. Furthermore, whilst quoting the NAO observations regarding what could have been done better, the article per- niciously fails to quote the fact stated in paragraphs 4.8.27 and 4.8.28, and summarised in Table 19, namely that the concession option chosen by the Univer- sity renders a significantly higher return than if the University had undertaken to implement the project itself (which was the only other option). The calculations drawn up by NAO are tangible proof that this project renders one of the highest returns per square metre, for any such Design, Build and Operate project implemented by any local public entity. Pierre Cassar Director, University of Malta Editorial note: The article clearly referred to the NAO's conclusions "that the tendering process complied with the legislative framework regulating public procure- ment and the project largely made eco- nomic and financial sense especially in view of the fact that the university was precluded by budgetary constraints from auto financing the project." The entire report cannot be repoduced; the article focused on deficiencies identified by the NAO, which in its summary highlighted three shortcomings – no initial workings for the project except for the financial feasibility appraisal, publishing a request for proposals instead of employing the Department of Contracts to issue the tender, and at the RfP issuance, coordi- nation issues hampered the university from fully crystallising its needs at an early stage.