The internal findings of the Election Commission (EC) in response to various claims of election irregularities during the March 21 polls will be revealed only to certain quarters but not to the opposition, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department M Kayveas said today.

"I think it is all right for a body which monitored the (conduct of the) election or the relevant authorities to get a copy of the report, but not for the opposition ... they are looking for political mileage and self-interest and we are not going to bound down to that," he told a press conference at the Parliament's lobby.

However, he explained, the EC could not release the report at present as it could be seen as sub judice as both opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat and PAS have filed election suits against the EC over alleged 'polls illegalities'.

"Private requests (of the report) could be entertained," Kayveas said, adding that this measure was in view of the 'public's outcry' over the alleged election shenanigans.

The EC - a body tasked with the impartial management of free and fair elections - came under heavy pressure from both from voters and the opposition after the polls over what were alleged to be major slip-ups and shoddy organsiation.

Following that, the EC itself suggested the setting up of a royal commission to independently probe the allegations and also submitted an internal report to the Prime Minister's Department.

'Unintentional' chaos

The government today confirmed that setting up a royal commission of inquiry to look into the conduct of 2004 polls general election had been ruled out.

Earlier, during a question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat while debating the royal address, Kayveas said there was no need for such a commission as the EC has fulfilled its task 'without any major incidents'.

"The government is not planning to set up a royal commission of inquiry because the EC has been impartial in accordance the federal constitution and has been able to carry out its tasks including conducting a free and professional election," the deputy minister replied to a question from Lim Kit Siang (DAP - Ipoh Timor).

Lim, the DAP chairperson who was appointed opposition leader today, had asked if the government proposed to set up a commission to probe what he described as a 'most unfair, embarrassing, confusing and unprofessional' general election.

Elaborating further, Kayveas said the EC was experienced in conducting polls beginning with the first general election held in 1959.

"Fellow MPs must understand and be aware that to carry out a general election in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious country such as Malaysia is not an easy task. The EC has fulfilled its responsibility with excellence.

"If there was chaos on the morning of polling day in Selangor, it was unintentional and besides it only occurred in several places in Selangor" he asserted.

In replying, Lim said that Kayveas had been 'forced to make a statement which he himself would not believe'. He then aired his supplementary question which asked for the EC's internal report on the episode to be made public, debated in parliament and a White Paper released.

Kayveas said the report had submitted to the PM"s department since the EC was under the department. The deputy minister in the same breath then took a swipe at the opposition.

"We ask for a first world Parliament and first world mentality but unfortunately we don't have first world opposition," he quipped.

Three motions on EC

Kayveas also asked the opposition 'to make up their mind' on the form of action they would like to take with regards to the polls conduct and outcome.

"If they want election suits, then they should not call for a White Paper to be released or a royal commission to investigate because it would be sub judice then. So which one do they want? They have to decide first ... they don't understand," he said.

At today's sitting, Lim had tabled a motion before the House in a bid to impeach EC chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman and his commissioners over the 'most unfair, unfree and unclean general election in the nation's history'

Apart from him, Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) also tabled two other motions involving the EC, namely to support the body's suggestion for an independent probe and to pass an amendment on the Election Commission Act in order to ensure the body is free and fair.

The motions tabled by the opposition parliamentarians and published in the Dewan's Order Paper will not be debated as yet as the ruling government's business takes priority.

Lim told reporters at the Parliament's lobby later that he has been informed that the House could allow a debate over the motions once the six-day debate on the royal address is over.