I'm not sure if this is related to this package. Here is the symptom:
The application panel (former kicker),set to auto-hide,  disappears if the network connection is lost or lagging.
I thought that it was due to the information widget trying to display the packages to update. So, I removed it from the panel but without changes.
The only way to make it re-appear is:
1) ctrl+alt+backspace
2) to login as root
3) to de-activate the interface (ifdown)
4) restart KDE

I did not notice this problem with KDE3.