De facto Law Minister Dr Rais Yatim's motion in Parliament tomorrow seeking a six-month suspension of MP Fong Po Kuan has been described as "petty-minded, vindictive and a travesty of parliamentary practices".

DAP leader Lim Kit Siang said the proposal to punish his party colleague by withdrawing her MP allowance for six months is "unprecedented, unparliamentary, illegal and unconstitutional".

It highlighted the venom and vindictiveness of Rais' action, Lim fumed.

"Rais should stop trying to bully Fong, the youngest MP in the House, who had distinguished herself by making up for her lack of parliamentary experience with the courage of her conviction," said Lim, who is currently attending a meeting on promoting democracy in Burma in Oslo, Norway.

Rais gave notice today to the Dewan Rakyat of his intention to move a motion on behalf of the prime minister to censure the 27-year-old DAP MP for Batu Gajah, for accusing House speaker Mohamed Zahir Ismail of "abusing his powers".

Fong, whose motion to debate the Certificate in Legal Practice scandal was rejected, had also accused Zahir of attempting to obstruct Parliament and its members from carrying out their duties.

Rais said in his motion that Fong should be suspended for six months without pay and allowances, and made to issue a public apology.

He also proposed that newspapers who had published her report be warned so that the House will not be "insulted" in the future.

Minister's logic

Lim added that Rais himself - going by the minister's logic - should be suspended from his cabinet post for six months for earlier saying that Zahir was not privy to the constitutional procedures undertaken by the government in the controversial appointment of Abdul Gani Patail as the new attorney-general.

Last month, Rais disputed the speaker's statement that the late Yang di-Pertuan Agong had yet to approve the appointment of Gani as AG.

"There is no confusion (over the appointment). The appointment of Gani as announced before will go on. I do not think that the speaker was privy to the procedures," Rais told reporters at a function.

Zahir had later said in Parliament that he was right regarding the matter.

In publicly disputing the House speaker, Lim said that Rais was exposing Zahir to "public ridicule and contempt".

Belated royal approval

Meanwhile, Lim also lambasted Rais for announcing the belated royal approval given to Abdul Gani's appointment.

Last Saturday, The Star quoted Rais as saying that Deputy and Acting Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin had consented to Abdul Gani's appointment the day before.

As a result, the minister said that it was not necessary that the appointment be made after the new Agong was elected on Wednesday.

"Why was the royal consent rushed through last Friday for the Acting Agong to sign the document, instead of waiting until after the election of the new Agong?" asked Lim.

"Even if Gani's appointment is constitutional, it is definitely improper, irregular and lacking in legitimacy," he lamented.