Malaysian parliamentarians will form a cross-party caucus on the violence rocking the southern provinces in neighbouring Thailand, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz today.

"This will be the second parliamentary caucus after the first which is on Burma," he added when met at the Parliament lobby.

The first parliamentary caucus was set up in June to demand free and fair elections in Burma.

Nazri, who oversees parliamentary affairs, said he will initiate the first meeting for the MPs in the House next Monday in order to gather their views.

Asked on his plans for the caucus, he said this would have to wait until after the first meeting.

On whether the cabinet agreed to this caucus, the minister said he made the decision since parliamentary affairs fall under his jurisdiction.

Common concern

"There is common concern and interest among parliamentarians on this issue," he added.

The proposal for the the parliamentary caucus on southern Thailand was made by Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) earlier this week.

He said the caucus was timely given the continuing unrest, violence and bloodshed in the provinces.

Last week, parliamentarians voiced similar concerns on the restive situation when they debated on an opposition's emergency motion .

In an unrelated development, Nazri said no candidate has been decided for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson post.

He said the cabinet yesterday discussed about the issue but no further details could be provided.

The government would have to table a motion in the House to nominate the candidate to get the consent of all MPs.

The post is vacant after incumbent Ramli Ngah Talib was elected as the Parliament speaker on Oct 22. The current PAC deputy chief is Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong).