Embattled Work Minister S Samy Vellu has alleged that there was a political conspiracy against him and vowed to expose those involved at the right time.

"When the time comes, I will expose this political plot," he was quoted as saying in the Oriental Daily today.

The minister came under heavy fire in recent days from Barisan Nasional backbenchers and opposition MPs who requested him to resign or be sacked . There was also a request to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to exercise his power and fire Samy.

However, the works minister did not elaborate on his allegation.

He also did not indicate whether he would lodge a complaint with the BN supreme council to take disciplinary action against the backbenchers who spoke out against him in Parliament.

According to the Chinese daily report, Samy who is also MIC president said he had received 1800 messages via SMS (short messaging service) expressing support for him.

"This shows that my position is not affected by this conspiracy against me," he added.

Asked to comment on Samy's allegation, Backbenchers Club chairperson Shahrir Samad said it is good for the works minister to expose the political plot and those behind it as soon as possible so that the confusion surrounding it could be cleared.

"At the moment, a lot of people are confused about what's going on. It is the minister's responsibility to clear the air," he said.

Shahrir added that the BBC has no agenda against anyone except to support the prime minister's call to promote transparency and openness in the government," he said when contacted this afternoon.

'There was consensus'

Opposition MP Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) who has joined the chorus for Samy's resignation in the House said the minister should not find excuses and divert attention by linking it with a 'political plot'.

"There was a general consensus from both the government and opposition sides in Parliament that day in calling for the minister to resign. It shows the seriousness of the matter. If he is a responsible minister, then he should resign," she said when contacted.

Samy has been under siege over the recent cracks that appeared on a busy flyover in Kuala Lumpur, 'fungal' hospital in Johor Bahru and Monday's landslide along the North-South highway

The premier was quoted in media reports yesterday as saying that it is not appropriate for the backbenchers to request a minister to resign and they have to abide by the BN code of ethics.

However, Sharir rebutted that BN parliamentarians have not breached party ethics in calling for Samy to step down.

Meanwhile, the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (SCAH) said it will display a 'Samy Must Go, Horn to Support' banner at the overhead bridge in front of its premises in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

SCAH social-economic committee president Thay Peng Hong said in a statement today that the event will be held at 11am. He invited motorists passing by to sound their horn if they think that Samy should be sacked.

Yesterday, SCAH said it will lobby for support from various groups nationwide in demanding Samy Vellu's resignation.