Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang today called for the establishment of a cross-party Malaysian parliamentary caucus on the violence in southern Thailand.

This will be the second cross-party caucus - should parliamentarians agree to the proposal - after a similar committee was set up in June to demand free and fair elections in Burma.

In a press conference held at the Parliament lobby, Lim said the caucus was timely given the situation in the neighbouring country.

"The time has come for the establishment of the caucus as the continuing unrest, violence and bloodshed has overspilling effects on the peace and security of Malaysia, which should be a concern to all MPs, regardless of party affiliation, whether in government or opposition," he added

He also commended Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for standing firm on Malaysia's right to raise the Tak Bai massacre at the Vientiane Asean Summit despite a threat by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to walk out if the issue is brought up.

Consult PM first

Commenting on Lim's proposal later, Minister in Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said he will raise the matter with the premier.

"I would have to consult the prime minister first at this Wednesday's cabinet meeting," he added when met at the Parliament lobby.

Nazri also agreed that the situation in southern Thai violence should be of common interest and concern to all parliamentarians regardless of their political background.

"This is an issue for all and it was proven last week when MPs voiced similar concerns on the continuing unrest during the debate of an emergency motion in the House," he said.

In the Oct 25 Tak Bai incident, 75 Thai Muslims died of suffocation when they were packed into army trucks. This drew international condemnation and outrage.

'Fake beggars'

In a separate development, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is reviewing the Destitute Persons Act 1977 to empower authorities to take action against 'fake beggars'.

The ministry's parliamentary secretary Chew Mei Fun said the review is underway in order to amend the act to "differentiate between real beggar and fake beggar".

"Under the current act, begging is not an offence but the ministry has to save them and provide them with rehabilitation. However, there is increasing concern over fake beggars," she told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

She also revealed that welfare officers had been attacked when carrying out their duties.

Citing an incident, she said a female beggar had bit an officer's arm when he tried to send her to a rehabilitation centre.