PN, PL in war of words amid attempts to reverse Żonqor land transfer to AUM

Updated 12.30pm with PL, Front Ħarsien ODZ statements
The Nationalist Party is seeking to reverse the transfer of the large plot of public land in Żonqor which leased to Jordanian investors for the construction of the American University of Malta.
The request was formally made on Tuesday morning by PN deputy leader for parliamentary affairs David Agius who presented a motion to Speaker Anglu Farrugia.
Both Mr Agius and PN environment spokesman Karol Aquilina argued that the development on virgin land was not necessary, as this private institution has failed to attracted the high number of students promised by the Sadeen Group.
The motion stated that the investors had promised to bring 4,000 students but this target had gone haywire as at present there are only 15 students.
Read: AUM student numbers ‘secret and confidential’ AUM student numbers ‘secret and confidential’
“The current AUM student population is even less than a private lesson,” Dr Aquilina remarked.

“It is amply clear that this development is not for educational purposes but for speculative reasons,” he added.
When it was pointed out to Dr Aquilina that the target of 4,000 students was not meant to be reached after...