An aide to ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad who has called on Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar to resign amidst the half-bridge controversy has come under fire for his remarks.

Matthias Chang, who was Mahathir's ex-political secretary for Chinese affairs in a no-holds barred press conference yesterday urged the minister to resign for allegedly 'wrongly advising' Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over the half-bridge issue.

"We got to remember times have changed, circumstances have changed, he can't stick to what he knew when he was there [...] there may be other current circumstances that he may not know," Deputy Foreign Minister Joseph Salang Gandum told malaysiakini today when met.

Stressing the cabinet had deliberated the matter for a long time, Salang said despite respecting Chang's right to voice his views, he, however, disagreed with the manner in which the latter had done it in calling a press conference.

"It would have been better for him, a person claiming to know much about the subject, to call on the minister and find out more rather than calling a press conference. It's so easy to call for someone to resign [...] I don't think that is fair," the deputy minister added.

MCA backbenchers, in a press conference at the Parliament lobby this afternoon, also expressed their 'strong condemnation' against Chang for picking on Syed Hamid. They described Chang's action as inappropriate since any cabinet decision on the half-bridge was a collective decision.

"Chang's course of action was senseless, there was no constructive suggestion at all and he confused the public. (He did it) as an opportunity to gain political mileage," Chor Chee Heung (BN-Alor Setar) read out a statement on behalf of the MCA backbenchers.

He also said the decision to scrap the half-bridge could not be deemed as 'selling out' the nation's dignity and that the current premier is not obliged to be bound by the decision of the previous prime minister or administration.

'What's the agenda?'

Former minister Dr Ting Chew Peh (BN-Gopeng) also criticised Chang for 'targeting the wrong person'.

Echoing similar views, vocal backbencher Zaid Ibrahim (BN-Kota Baru) said it was not appropriate to cast the blame on Syed Hamid alone.

"The issue isn't just about Syed Hamid. I think the government has to explain why the decision was reversed. If the government explains, the public will make a judgement themselves," said the Kota Baru MP, who is also senior lawyer.

An opposition parliamentarian asked Chang for his 'agenda' on calling the press conference 'when so much water has flown under the bridge' and with him (Chang) not being privy to the latest development.

"Since the bridge was proposed by his ex-boss, his (action) will complicate the matter further. It may be seen as Mahathir using a proxy and this will be perceived as an interference against the present government," said Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Tanjong).

"It is a negative point for Abdullah. It is going to give the impression that although the decision on the half-bridge was right, but the (government's) conduct of the entire affair - especially in foreign affairs - does not instill public confidence (in his administration)," noted Chow.