Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang has rebuked Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz for dragging the King's name into the outcry over the decision not to set up a select committee on water privatisation.

"It is most irresponsible for a cabinet minister to try and drag the King into a public controversy, as the Royal address is the policy pronouncement of the government of the day," he said in a statement today.

"Any change or criticism of the Royal address is no personal reflection on the King, but legitimate and democratic responses to government policies and stances," he added.

Yesterday, while winding up the debate on the Royal address, Nazri told the Dewan Rakyat that the plan to form a select committee was dropped because the King wants water privatisation to be in place by the end of the year.

The cabinet had decided on March 16 that the committee would not be set up in order to achieve the goal of privatising the management of water supply on schedule.

'Rubber stamp'

Lim said both the government and opposition benches do not want Energy, Water and Communication Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik to treat Parliament as a "rubber stamp" to approve the National Water Service Commission Bill and National Water Services Industry Bill.

The constitution was amended during a special parliamentary sitting on Jan18 and 19 to enable the transfer of jurisdiction of water management to the federal government.

Lim criticised Keng Yaik for refusing to honour the decision to fully consult with parliamentarians through the select committee.

He said the cabinet should revert to its decision, as setting up the committee would allow consultation with the public and gather perspectives that are distinct from that of the executive.

The committee should not be headed by the minister for energy, water and communications, or even his deputy, but by a senior MP so that the ministry is not seen to be exercising undue and improper influence on the deliberations and decisions of the committee, he said.

Backbenchers Club Head Shahrir Abdul Samad had earlier called for the idea of select committee to be re-proposed to the cabinet.