Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow's participation in a Perkasa-linked rally yesterday has landed him in the soup with various quarters, including the aforementioned Malay rights group.

Teng said Perkasa has sent him a fiery text message chiding him for his remarks on Malaysiakini yesterday, that he would not have attended the rally if he had known about their participation.

NONE " U think Gerakan candidate can win without Malay Perkasa voters? Perkasa members can stay at home where Gerakan contest. No problem. Tq. Sec Gen Perkasa ," Teng showed the text message sent to him this morning.

"I did not reply to the message," he added, reiterating that he would not have attended the event involving some 5,000 people at the Speakers Square yesterday if he had known of Perkasa's involvement.

"I would have left the event if not for Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nor Mohamed Yakcop who came to talk to me," Teng ( right ) said, admitting that he had been furious at the matter.

"But that accusation was untrue. Later, state Umno deputy chief Musa Sheik Fadzir said the rally was organised by NGOs, not Perkasa, before inviting me to speak at the rally," he stressed, adding that most of the crowd wore BN blue T-shirts.

Meanwhile, state DAP Socialist Youth chief Ng Wei Aik questioned if an "underground society" had mobilised people, including organising 60 buses to ferry people from the island and mainland to attend the event.

"We want Teng to explain if these underground societies have infiltrated BN," asked Ng, showing a text message invite on his mobile phone allegedly sent by the underground group.

"How could Ng get that sms? I cannot account for all the smses he receives," said Teng, adding that he would not be responding to the Komtar assemblyperson as he had no "weightage".

This morning, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng condemned Teng, saying the latter has finally shown his "true colours" by participating in the same event as the pro-Malay rights group.

Lim claimed that Teng was no different from past Gerakan leaders who were accused of being afraid of Umno.

‘No need for Teng to hide his secret affair'

"Perkasa played a prominent role in the event, and Teng was seen shaking hands with them," he said at a press conference in Komtar.

lim guan eng "It's true that all the violent and aggressive demonstrations were organised by groups who support BN, and are supported by them," Lim ( left ) noted.

"No need for Teng to hide the secret affair he has with Perkasa. It's all out in the open now, better to admit it," he mocked.

When queried on Lim's statement, Teng laughed loudly and said, "Thank you for confirming that I am not afraid of Perkasa".

"It's an open field. If Perkasa comes in, what can I do? Being in their presence does not mean that I have joined them," he said when met after announcing RM3 million for the launch of the 1Malaysia Hawker's Co-op at the Penang Chinese Town Hall.

"What about Lim's dad, Kit Siang, who recently said he will contest under PAS. Does this mean he has embraced hudud law?" Teng shot back.

Teng was also vilified at a hawkers' dinner in Padang Kota Lama yesterday, where state executive councillor and state DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow questioned why the former had attended a Perkasa's rally when he did not show up at the dinner.

"I had to attend three pre-scheduled meetings on the election by our machinery in the mainland. I also had to go to Sungai Petani to meet our members over the candidacy lists," Teng clarified.

"I also missed a dinner with Indian traders last night. So it was not done purposely," he added.