Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail is likely to kibosh the parliamentary debate on an opposition motion to impeach Election Commission (EC) chief Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman despite Barisan Nasional's backing for the move.

"The AG's preliminary opinion is that he is concerned the wording of the motion will lead to sub judice ," Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz - who oversees parliamentary affairs - told a press conference at the parliament's lobby today.

However, he said a meeting has been called for Saturday involving Dewan Rakyat speaker Dr Mohamed Zahir Ismail and de facto law minister Radzi Sheikh Ahmad to further discuss the matter.

Nazri expressed hope that a final decision could be made on Monday.

"I stress that the Barisan Nasional is prepared to debate this motion pertaining to the EC because it is of public concern," he said.

The motion was tabled by Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) during the House sitting yesterday. He told malaysiakini today that he will seek a meeting with the AG to discuss the matter further.

In his motion, Lim said the House should pass a vote of no-confidence against Abdul Rashid and his commissioners over the 'most unfair, unfree and unclean general election in the nation's history'.

Opposition deputy

The motion - or known as a private member motion - differs from an emergency motion tabled under the Standing Order 18. An emergency motion deals with issues of 'urgent, definite and of public importance'.

Private member motions, including those tabled by opposition parliamentarians, are rarely debated by the House if there is government business to be attended to first. There have been only several instances in the past where the ruling BN made way for opposition motions to be debated only to have them rejected.

Debating the motion of thanks for the royal address this afternoon, Lim said pending election petitions should not stop parliament from carrying out its duty to conduct a post-mortem on alleged election fraud and irregularities during the March 21 polls.

"The motion to impeach the EC chief and his members is not so much about the legality of the 2004 general election, but the efficiency, fairness, professionalism and integrity of the conduct of the election," the opposition leader said.

Meanwhile, Nazri announced parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) new line-up which has been expanded to 14 from seven previously.

The minister had yesterday announced that Pasir Salak MP Ramli Ngah Talib would head the committee. At today's press conference, Nazri said Ramli will be assisted by Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong), who will be appointed as the PAC deputy chairperson.

The other committee members are Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Keadilan-Permatang Pauh), Kamaruddin Jaffar (PAS-Tumpat), M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat), Madius Tangau (BN-Tuaran), Jimmy Donald (BN-Sri Aman), Liow Tiong Lai (BN-Bentong), Lim Bee Kau (BN-Padang Serai), Mohd Sarit Yusoh (BN-Temerluh), Hasni Mohammad (BN-Pontian) and Ahmad Shabery Cheek (BN-Kemaman).

There are two other vacancies which will be filled by Gerakan and MIC representatives once they have been selected.

Not finalised

"This the first time we have an opposition MP as the deputy head of the PAC. In future, we will ensure this pattern applies to all select committees meaning the heads will be from BN while the deputies are from the opposition," Nazri said.

Nazri was in the news recently for saying that the opposition would not be allowed to chair the PAC as certain ' sensitivities ' needed to be protected.

Nazri also announced the new line-up for the House Committee - a powerful committee overseeing Lower House affairs - which will be headed by Dewan Raykat speaker Mohamed Zahir Ismail while BN whip and deputy prime minister Najib Abdul Razak is his deputy.

Other committee members include BN leaders Ong Ka Ting, S Samy Vellu, Bernad Dompok, Leo Micheal Toyad and the parliamentary opposition leader.

On the two parliamentary select committees to study amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and the implementation of the national service programme, Nazri said the selection of committee members for the two had yet to be finalised.