GEORGE TOWN – Doubts have emerged on whether the owners of the silver chariot were given permission by the National Security Council to embark on its 7km journey between Kovil Veedu Temple on Penang Street and the Nattukottai Chettiar Temple.
Lawyer Shamsher Singh Thind questioned the validity of the approval by the NSC for the 127-year old chariot to make the journey as part of the Thaipusam celebrations today.
“When was the approval given? Was it before the chariot moved or after it departed?
“Where is the consenting letter? Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy did not receive any documents to indicate it was approved by the NSC,” said Shamser.
Ramasamy chairs the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) which is the authoritative organising body for Thaipusam in Penang.
Ramasamy has questioned if the owners had consent from the NSC, but the police have indicated that the NSC’s approval had been given, hence their cooperation in providing security for the chariot’s journey.
“We are not questioning the religious aspects of Thaipusam, just the legality,” said Shamsher.
Meanwhile, former PHEB member S. Raveentharan said that the organisers of the chariot were driven by ego rather than anything else.
“They failed to realise the impact that they caused when they decided to allow the chariot to move despite the state’s ban on any Thaipusam activities.
“A majority of the people I know are disturbed by the lack of community solidarity that the chariot organisers had displayed, especially when we need each other to fight the pandemic, which infects anyone regardless of race, religion, or creed,” said Raveentharan.
He said he expects PHEB to act against the owners simply for forsaking the agreement by the Hindu religious community that Thaipusam should be celebrated privately this year due to the threat of Covid-19.
Meanwhile, most devotees abided by PHEB’s directive to pray at home today, with hardly anyone spotted at the main temples in Waterfall.
A temple official said that he was glad to see that they adhered to the directive because it is best to safeguard public health in view of the threat from the virus.
Customary prayers were conducted by the priests and committee members.
The chariot is scheduled to head back to its temple tomorrow. – The Vibes, January 28, 2021
Additional reporting by Rachel Yeoh
