KEDAH Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor cancelled the state leave for Thaipusam, citing the movement control order (MCO) which has cancelled all outdoor activities.
“There is no cuti peristiwa. Since there is no celebration this year, there will be no public holiday,” he was reported saying yesterday.
However, the Malaysian Hindu Sangam was not impressed by Sanusi’s decision.
“He thinks Thaipusam is all about carrying kavadi (mini procession) and pal kudam (milk offering). It’s more than that. It’s a day where Hindus celebrate it by having prayer sessions at home.
“Sanusi doesn’t seem to understand that it’s the outdoor procession and crowd gathering that has been cancelled, not the Thaipusam day itself!” its president Datuk RS Mogan Shan told FocusM.
Voicing his displeasure over the decision, Mogan Shan said that Hindus in Kedah will still need the holiday so that they can hold prayer sessions at the comfort of their own homes during the pandemic.
“We will be writing to Sanusi about this. We urge the Menteri Besar to rescind his decision and reinstate the public holiday,” he said.
As for Thaipusam, while there are many legends attributed to it but traditions hold that it is a day to commemorate one of the major Hindu gods, Lord Muruga.
Touching on the matter, former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak reminded Sanusi that Thaipusam is one of the most important religious day for Hindus, adding many states have gazetted it as a public holiday.
“Even though many festivals have been cancelled due to MCO, there is no reason to cancel the holiday as the Hindu community celebrate it at home.
“Let’s preserve the tradition. We’re 1Malaysia,” said the Pekan MP.
This was not the first time Sanusi courted controversy among Indians and Hindus in Malaysia.
Last year, the PAS leader used stereotypical slur against those who criticised him for demolishing a Hindu temple in Kuala Kedah.
“Just because one is drunk on the toddy of popularity, and become race champions as they are quick to jump on temple demolitions. However, they are silent on the demolition of structures belonging to Malays.
“Senior politicians such as they might as well not drink one bottle, but get drunk on two or three instead,” Sanusi was reported saying of to his MIC and DAP critics. – Jan 21, 2021
