The Penang government's effort to counter the lack of information to the grassroots by distributing its newspaper Suara CAT met with violence in Kepala Batas recently when one of its coordinators was allegedly punched.

NONE Penang introduced CAT governance based on competency, accountability and transparency when it took over the state in 2008, and produced Suara CAT to inform the people about its current activities and development.

On Monday, Bertam coordinating officer Abdul Latif Abdullah and his team were trying to distribute about 3,000 copies of the state's bulletin around Kepala Batas and Penaga.

At Jalan Perak in front of Al-Jamiul Badawi mosque about 5pm, he was attacked.

Abdul Latif claimed he was punched twice on both cheeks by a man, whom he identified as an Umno member from Kepala Batas.

He said the man, in his early 40s, also tried to kick him.

Blocking information

Abdul Latif said the attack was meant to prevent Pakatan Rakyat workers, like himself, from distributing Suara CAT as it carries information on the senior citizens appreciation programmes where they get RM100 each, and for beneficiaries of the deceased (RM1,000).

Abdul Latif said policemen in the vicinity helped by pulling him away from the man.

"They do not want the correct information to reach the people on the money used for senior citizens, that's why we are threatened," he told Malaysiakini .

NONE "But we will not give up, we will continue. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng ( left ) has also motivated us by saying that we have no choice but to go on as all channels of information, including mainstream newspapers, to the grassroots have been blocked," he added.

Controversy surrounding the source of the money is still circulating, and some Muslim senior citizens have returned their money to Umno, saying it was ‘haram' to receive money from gambling.

The state however claimed that it has not received any of the money which was purportedly handed over to Umno.

Abdul Latif has since lodged a police report at the Kepala Batas police station over the matter.

He said he has given his statement to the police today and expressed hope that they will act professionally and deal with the culprit.