DAP leaders are demanding for S Samy Vellu's resignation as works minister following his alleged threat to shelve repair works on the Middle Ring Road II (MRRII) if a graft probe is initiated against the project.

Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should "reprimand, suspend and remove" one of the most senior member in his cabinet for threatening to prolong the three-month closure of the 1.7km flyover in Kepong if the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) steps in.

"Malaysians are most outraged by Samy Vellu's threat to impose even greater hardships and inconvenience on the tens of thousands of commuters who use the flyover daily," he said in a statement today.

He said the probe should include aspects covering the award of contract, design, construction and supervision by the Public Works Department and the ministry.

Samy Vellu has come under fire for being unable to answer satisfactorily questions raised over the controversy sparked off by an alleged design fault, which he has since denied.

Yesterday, Federal Territory ACA chief Chuah Chang Man reportedly said that a probe would be launched provided a report is first filed with the agency.

Remarks 'childish'

Citing an e-mail message he received on the matter, Lim said the writer described Samy Vellu's remarks as "childish and also very high-handed".

"A person of this position should be more responsible and should think before speaking. I don't see how an investigation can affect repair work of the MRRII. This is not a burglary or homicide where the evidence are not to be disturbed until police has finished the work on the crime scene.

"This is not a professional attitude and something needs to be done," he quoted from the e-mail.

Failing a retraction and an apology over his public statements, said Lim, Abdullah should suspend his cabinet colleague for "openly going against the 2004 general election pledge to head a clean, incorruptible, accountable, transparent, efficient and people-oriented administration".

"A new works minister should be appointed, (someone) who is prepared to tell the people the full facts about the MRRII flyover scandal, and who will not threaten to stop repairs work if the ACA conducts an investigation," he added.

He noted the speed with which Samy Vellu categorically dismissed suggestions of design failure that had led to cracks being found on the 33 columns of the RM238.8 million elevated highway.

"If he has expert findings to back up his stand, why hasn't he made public these expert reports?"

Samy's about-turn

Lim also questioned Samy Vellu's about-turn on Wednesday to defend the financial capacity of the contractor when two days earlier, he reportedly told consortium partner BumiHiway (M) Sdn Bhd to bear the cost and complete repair works within three months.

The government has estimated repairs to cost RM20 million.

Samy Vellu had earlier said that the government had yet to decide on who should foot the hefty repair bill.

"I have told the cabinet that the RM20 million repair bill is not easy an amount to be spent by the contractor," he was quoted as saying.

Lim urged the Public Accounts Committee, which is meeting in Parliament tomorrow, to initiate a thorough audit of the MRRII project.

"In particular, the audit should look into the award of the contract, project design, construction and quality of supervision by the PWD and the Works Ministry.

He said the audit should also works towards identifying the root cause of how the flyover could become a threat to public safety less than two years after its completion.

Meanwhile, DAP national vice-chairperson and Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw lodged a police report today asking for an immediate probe into the project.

"The government must engage an independent consultant to study the flaws in the project as well as the flyover," he said in the police report. A copy was made available to malaysiakini.

He said that the police and ACA investigations should not be linked to the urgent repair works needed to be done.