The last day of the May-April parliamentary sitting yesterday was not just a ' washout ' but a triple 'washout', according to Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang.

Parliament was abruptly adjourned sine dine yesterday after water from a leaking roof poured into the August chamber following heavy rain and thunderstorm.

Lim said there were also other 'washouts' which included the distraction of national attention from the announcement of the national biotechnology policy to become a global biotechnology, and the overshadowing of the World Ethics and Integrity Forum.

"But the biggest and most serious casualty of the parliamentary washout was the history that would have been made by the Malaysian Parliament yesterday with MPs from both sides of the House uniting in support of a motion on democratisation in Burma," he said in a statement.

The motion, tabled by Zaid Ibrahim (BN-Kota Baru), also seek to oppose Burma from taking over the Asean chair in 2006 if the military junta do not make any significant progress in democratisation such as the release of all political detainees.

However the motion, which was to be debated yesterday was put off after Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has ordered the motion to be withdrawn.

Nazri said the move was followed by a protest from the Burmese military junta who deemed the motion as an attempt to 'undermine' the country.

The premier himself today said that members of parliament were free to discuss issues pertaining to Burma but there was no need for a resolution on it to be adopted by Parliament.

'Historic agreement'

Lim explained that despite the government not being supportive, he however has reached an agreement with Backbenchers Club chairperson Shahrir Samad to make time for debate and passage of the Burma motion.

Parliamentarians from both sides of the House would economise their debates on all the government businesses so that the Burma motion could be raised for debate and passage before the normal adjournment time.

He called this a "historic agreement" to create Malaysian parliamentary history so that MPs could demonstrate a "powerful Malaysian parliamentary desire" for democratisation in Burma by supporting Zaid's motion without the involvement of the government.

"This historic arrangement, however, was defeated by the RM80 million parliament renovation scandal of the leaking roof, forcing premature, ignominious and unceremonial adjournment of the House," the opposition leader asserted.

He also criticised Deputy Speaker Lim Si Cheng who was chairing the session then for adjourning the sitting sine dine before discussing it with the government and opposition to seek other alternatives to complete the outstanding parliamentary business.

Lim called for Parliament to be reconvened next week or to hold a special one-day sitting to complete the outstanding parliamentary business.

"Alternatively, this could be held after the Senate meeting starting next Tuesday. One day of parliamentary sitting is all that is needed to complete the outstanding parliamentary business yesterday, including Zaid's Burma motion," he said.