Penang Hindu Endowments Board executive director Ramachandran Muthiah, 70, sustained many cuts all over his body as he alighted from his car. The motive for the attack has not been ascertained.

Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy said Ramachandran was rushed to the Bukit Mertajam Hospital for emergency treatment and was later transferred to the Seberang Jaya Hospital.

He said Ramachandran was now in stable condition. A police report was lodged by his wife and son-in-law over the incident, he said.

“The attack against him is an attack on the Penang government and the endowments board.

“The state government will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit and eventual apprehension of the cowards behind the attack,” he said when contacted.

Seberang Perai Central police chief Shafee Abd Samad confirmed the incident and said the case was being investigated under Section 326 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt using dangerous weapons.

Ramachandran was previously a secretary of the Penang branch of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress. He was a trade unionist actively involved in key labour issues during the state’s industrial boom in the 1970s and 1980s.

He also served as a Seberang Perai municipal councillor for two terms and was subsequently appointed as the executive director of the endowments’ board.

The board takes care of numerous Hindu temples and burial grounds in Penang.