Australia's senator Nick Xenophon has filed a motion today seeking a parliamentary inquiry into the proposed takeover-merger of the ASX Ltd. (ASX) by the Asian bourse Singapore Exchange Ltd.

Independent Senator Xenophon from South Australia has filed a motion before the Economics References Committee to examine the bid proposal set to be under deliberations at the Senate's upper house today, the national parliament's website indicated.

Lawmakers are not so keen with the takeover bid by Singapore as it triggers some nationalist sentiments among Australian citizens.

Analysts said an inquiry would further delay the bid now being evaluated by Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board.

In order for the SGX proposal to materialise, it needs the approval of Australia's competition regulator, Treasurer Wayne Swan, the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission and majority of the parliamentarians.

On Monday, National Treasurer Wayne Swan has clarified reports that the deal has already been scuttled.

Swan said such reports were speculation.

"I have no idea where those reports have come from," he told ABC radio.

"I will take my decision on the evidence before me, based not only on the recommendation by the Foreign Investment Review Board but a thorough consideration of all the issues in good time...

"My decision will be taken in the national interest and it will have nothing to do with political considerations whatsoever," he said.