The Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (SCAH) will lobby for support from various groups nationwide in demanding Works Minister S Samy Vellu's resignation following similar calls made by the Barisan Nasional and opposition politicians.

In a statement today, SCAH's socio-economic committee - a section under the Chinese Assembly Hall - urged political parties, non-governmental organisations and other interested bodies to join forces in pressuring the senior minister to resign.

Committee chairperson Thay Peng Hong said that should Samy Vellu remain adamant in staying on, these associations will send a letter to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi urging the premier to invoke his power in sacking the works minister.

Thay said there had been several serious infrastructure breakdowns since Samy Vellu became the works minister.

"However he has never apologised to the people. His arrogance is as if his position as the works minister is irreplaceable," he said.

Criticising with facts

Thay opined that it was a healthy development that both government and opposition politicians have made the same call in urging Samy Vellu to step down over the recent infrastructure scandals.

"This indicates that the MPs have been exemplary in directing their criticisms over facts and not merely making personal attacks," he added.

Samy Vellu came under heavy fire since Monday following the landslide at Gua Tempurung, Perak, along the North-South Highway.

On Tuesday, several BN backbenchers spoke in Parliament urging him to relinquish his post or be fired.

However, the minister came out defending his actions yesterday and was quoted in the New Straits Times today as saying that "I am not a layman, I am qualified to speak on these matters... some of them who spoke were too emotional. They did not have all the information."

The prime minister has since told the backbenchers not to demand for a minister's resignation but his deputy Najib Abdul Razak said Samy Vellu should explain himself in Parliament.

Not dragging Pak Lah in

In a separate statement, SCAH Civil Rights Committee chairperson Ser Choon Ing said it was not necessary for the government to conduct an investigation against online daily malaysiakini following a recent report on the involvement of one 'Abdullah Badawi' in the Iraq oil scam.

Ser said malaysiakini journalists were carrying out their duties in reporting the case and the story was based on the United States Iraq Survey Group (ISG) report.

"The malaysiakini report did not suggest that the prime minister was the 'Abdullah Badawi' in the ISG report.

"If the foreign ministry feels that the ISG report discredits the prime minister's reputation, then the ministry should submit an official protest note to the US government," he added in the statement.

Abdullah has denied involvement in dealing with the former Iraqi government under Saddam Hussein in the United Nations' oil-for-food programme. He also ordered an inquiry into the ISG report.