PENANG Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr Ramasamy Palanisamy has expressed his shock over Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique’s earlier statement that there will be no Thaipusam procession in January 2022.
The National Unity Minister, who made the announcement in Parliament in response to Batu Gajah MP Sivakumar Naidu’s question, said this was because of the threat posed by the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
“I am shocked that Halimah would make such a categorical statement in denying the chariot procession the principal aspect of Thaipusam as in the absence of the chariot procession the religious festival has no meaning,” the Perai assemblyman said.
“The threat from the new Omicron variant is hardly the justification for the cancellation of the chariot procession in the coming Thaipusam Hindu festival which falls on Jan 18, 2022.”
Halimah said that her ministry had met with various stakeholders earlier this month.
She said 10 Hindu leaders from Penang, Kedah, Selangor and Johor were involved in the discussions as the festival is celebrated grandly in these states.
The discussions were also attended by officers from the National Security Council (MKN) and health ministry.
“At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2021, the chariot procession was cancelled by the Government,” Ramasamy recalled.
“But due to the subsequent intervention by Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan, chariot procession was allowed for the Batu Caves and Chettiar temples in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
“The organiser of the golden chariot procession – the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) – had however stood its ground in not allowing the chariot procession as it was deemed a health hazard especially during the height of the pandemic
“But the two temples went ahead to organise the chariot procession with the chariots being literally dragged and pushed by uniformed personnel – what a way to organise the chariot procession!”
According to Ramasamy, Halimah’s consultation with the Hindu leaders was just a general discussion about the upcoming Thaipusam celebration.
“I don’t think they supported the idea of cancelling the chariot procession nor did they give Halimah the mandate to cancel the chariot procession.
“Halimah should not use the consultation as a basis as to why the chariot procession had to be cancelled.
“Halimah being not a Hindu might not be in a position to appreciate the significance of the chariots during Thaipusam – without the processions, Thaipusam has no significance nor meaning.”
Furthermore, Ramasamy pointed out that a vast majority of Malaysians have already been fully vaccinated and that most of the states are presently in Phase Four of the country’s National Recovery Plan.
“With the ban on interstate travel being lifted and various functions and gatherings being allowed to resume, the country is already one step closer to normalcy,” he remarked.
“If state elections could be held, why not chariot processions? It’s not as if the pandemic will rear its ugly head once more, and it’s not that we are going to let down our guard in the face of the new Omicron variant.”
Calling Halimah’s blatant disregard for the religious sensitivities of the Hindus “appalling”, Ramasamy went on to ask if this is the way to enhance national unity among races by being completely blind to the importance of chariot processions during Thaipusam.
“I hope Halimah changes her mind but if she persists in not allowing the chariot processions, then PHEB will have no choice but to defy the federal directive.” – Dec 8, 2021
