Senior citizens want their cash from the Penang government to be either directly distributed or banked into their accounts.

They are entitled to RM100 under the Senior Citizens Appreciation Programme.

The government has decided to post vouchers to recipients at their home addresses, to be redeemed at any Maybank branch.

Senior Active Group of Elders President Chin Sek Ham said while he appreciated the state's efforts to care for the elderly, it was inconvenient for the infirm and wheelchair-bound to have to travel to a bank.

"Those who have no bank accounts, would also have to further undergo the inconvenience of opening an account first," Chin, 69, a former teacher, said.

"It should not be a problem for us to collect the cash direct from the government as long it is received directly by the person whose name has been registered with the state," he added.

NONE In a press statement issued today, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng ( right ) said the money will be posted after the launch of the Senior Citizens Appreciation Programme in Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang on Mar 21.

The state government decided on this latest move to facilitate the disbursement of the funds and reduce inconvenience caused to senior citizens.

They would otherwise have to visit a constituency under a Pakatan Rakyat representative to receive the RM100.

Raymond Kwok, 66, suggested that it would be better for the money to be banked in directly to the senior citizen's account.

"In this way, the money goes directly to each person, and we can withdraw it anytime," said Kwok, a local writer with several newspapers, who has published five books in the local Hokkien dialect.

"The government could also distribute the money at the various Rukun Tetangga locations , " he added.

While he thanked the state government for initiating the programme, Kwok lamented that the registration process was similar to a ‘merry-go-round'.

"There was a long queue and we were asked the same stupid questions many times. Why can't the forms be distributed to all the constituencies and explained clearly so that it can be completed and returned quickly?" he asked.

Meanwhile, Lim has accused his political opponents of trying to sabotage this cash appreciation programme by describing it as an act of bribery and corruption.

However, he said the programme will continue as planned and his administration is prepared to face any investigation or action by the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Agency.