State BN chief Teng Chang Yeow has invited another round of controversy by recruiting two former MCA leaders, described as "tainted" by his rivals, as members of his think-tank.

"There is nothing important about this. Everyone has a past," said Teng, when asked about the matter today.

"No matter who I appoint, they (his opponents) will criticise. I appoint state Umno Youth Shaik Hussein Mydin to coordinate our election campaign, they also criticise," Teng added.

"The duo (his new advisers) have served their sentences. All I need is their ideas on the battle field/ That is all," he stressed.

The two, former MCA Youth leader and a former deputy minister, Kee Yong Wee, and Wong Choon Win,were active in the MCA in the 1980s.

Teng's opponents have described Kee and Wong as controversial figures as they have been arrested, charged, convicted and jailed for criminal breach of trust related to public funds.

Wong, 74, was arrested and charged with criminal breach of trust in a deposit-taking cooperatives scandal in February 1987.

He was convicted , jailed for nine months and released on Nov 9, 1988.

Kee, a deputy minister for trade and industry in 1984, was also arrested, charged, convicted and jailed for criminal breach of trust in 1987.

'Be fair in judging them'

Teng, who is also Gerakan secretary-general, said he invited Kee and Wong to help the BN recapture Penang in the coming general election, which must be called by June next year.

"Be fair in judging them, everyone has a past," Teng told Malaysiakini, saying that he has several others assisting him in his think-tank.

NONE "There are many others with me, but someone highlighted these two. I don't have to tell who are with me," added the former Penang state executive councillor.

"Do I have to tell who are with me? There are some strong DAP former leaders who are with me. As for the current ones, I don't trust them," he added.

Meanwhile, DAP Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong ( right ) said in his Facebook posting last week that Teng's appointment of the duo reminded him about Gerakan's scenario in 2008.

Koh also had MCA advisers

During the 12th general election campaign that year, Teng was among the three Gerakan leaders who competed for the Penang chief minister's post.

The other two were state Gerakan chief Dr Teng Hock Nan and Bukit Bendera MP Chia Kwang Chye.

At that time, Gerakan was promoting its slogan of "reinvention" and former CM Koh Tsu Koon also had two MCA senior leaders as his advisers.

Gerakan and MCA were wiped out in the 2008 general election in Penang, with no seat to boast of.

"During that election, our opponent did not know how we operated. The DAP publicity team members were all younger than me, and I was only 31 years old then," said Liew.