The opposition DAP made it clear in no uncertain terms today that the only way for Works Minister S Samy Vellu to get out of his predicament is to graciously resign from his post.

Its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng pointed out that "the time has also come for the works ministry to make a clean start to restore public confidence in discharging its duties.

"The only way to dispel negative public perception that the ministry is inefficient, riddled with wrongdoings and unhealthy practices that are detrimental to public interest is for Samy to go," he said in a press statement.

Lim said that slapping a fine on one errant contractor would not help the minister in his bid to gain public confidence in the light of recent criticisms against him and his ministry.

Numerous calls , including from within the Barisan Nasional, have been made for Samy's removal since the detection of damage on the Middle Ring Road II (MRRII) flyover in August and several other serious infrastructure defects in government projects.

In response, the minister slapped a fine of RM80 million yesterday on a government-linked contractor, Perangsang International Sdn Bhd, which failed to complete work on the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) building in Jalan Duta in Kuala Lumpur.

Work on the RM167 million project started in 1994 and was scheduled to be completed in 1997 but the building is not fit for occupation till today.

Pak Lah must act

Bernama also reported today that Samy planned to have the company deregistered while blacklisting another company - for a different project - which the minister has not named.

Lim is sceptical that the contractors will be able to come good on the large fine.

"The important question here is whether the contractor has been paid RM300 mil for such shoddy work on the Matrade building and if so, why?

"Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should act decisively and in the national interest by not allowing Samy to cling on stubbornly to his position as works minister," added Lim.

The DAP leader also highlighted in his statement that "Samy should be consoled by the fact that as president of MIC, he would definitely still be appointed a minister even if he resigns as the political reality is that he would still be appointed to head another ministry".

But Lim added that "if the minister were to be transferred out, it would go some way towards upholding accountability in punishing a minister for not protecting public interest".