No chariot processions for Thaipusam amid Omicron threat: Halimah

KUALA LUMPUR – Thaipusam processions next month are set to be a dim affair as the National Unity Ministry has disallowed much fanfare, in light of the rising threat posed by the Omicron variant. 

National Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique said this when answering queries on the upcoming festival posed by V. Sivakumar (Batu Gajah-PH) in the Dewan Rakyat today. 

According to Halimah, the decision was made after the relevant parties had been engaged to obtain a better understanding of the situation. 

“The ministry cannot allow a chariot procession to take place, while facing the threat from the new Covid-19 variant.

“Nonetheless, the ministry had hosted a discussion on December 2 that was attended by 10 Hindu religious leaders from Penang, Kedah, Selangor, and Johor, alongside officers from the National Security Council and the Health Ministry. 

“The proposed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the celebration, which falls on January 18 next year, will now have to be brought to several committees for their consideration,” the Kota Tinggi lawmaker said, adding that the meetings will be held on December 13-15. 

Sivakumar also directed a supplementary question at Halimah on whether temples, which have been closed for almost two years, will be able to take the opportunity to generate income by opening stalls. 

In response, Halimah said the opening of stalls is among seven other areas that had been identified by her ministry as requiring further attention. 

She said as long as there is permission from the local authorities, then stalls operated by temple authorities should face no problems. 

Meanwhile, she reassured that SOPs for Christmas will be announced soon – once discussions with stakeholders have been conducted and analysed. 

In this year’s Thaipusam celebration, the annual temple chariot procession from the Jalan Bandar Hindu temple here to Batu Caves had been approved by then federal territories minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa. 

His approval was based on the condition that – among others – the chariot would not make any stops, with no more than 10 followers allowed, and no music. – The Vibes, December 7, 2021