GEORGE TOWN – The silver chariot in Penang was given approval by the National Security Council (NSC) to proceed with its Thaipusam procession early this morning.
Nattukottai Chettiar Temple trustee A. Narayanan said organisers adhered to the stipulated regulations when the chariot left the Kovil Veedu Temple in Penang Street at 3.30am for the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Kovil, better known as the Waterfall Hill Temple.
“We applied for the procession permission from the NSC. Police were present during the 7km journey, which is shorter than the 9km in previous years.
“The chariot’s route was decided by police.”
The procession did not go down well with state Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy, who deemed it illegal as the state did not issue an approval for the event.
He said he will issue a show-cause letter to the organisers for their defiance.
In response, Narayanan told The Vibes that the state government and Ramasamy have no locus standi to take over the Chettiar community’s temple.
“We will fight him in court. We have our rights.”
He said the temple will also resist any attempt by the Penang Hindu Endowment Board to take over temple management, the same way it resisted attempts by the state to ban Thaipusam celebrations.
“There is no need to break century-old traditions, especially if the procession complies with the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“Ramasamy said it is a unanimous decision, but it is not. They only asked four of our representatives for comments, and they disagreed.”
In an earlier press conference, Ramasamy said: “Running the chariot without approval is illegal, not to mention the disrespect shown to the state government.
“Maybe they had the support of MIC and the Perikatan Nasional government. This makes a mockery of our attempts to control the pandemic. I hold both parties responsible for this act of defiance.
“There is nothing to stop the board from thinking of ways to bring the Nattukottai Chettiar Temple under its fold. Section 4 of the board’s ordinance allows it to take over the management and ownership of temples and properties, whose owners breach laws and state policies.
“Once Thaipusam is over, the process will begin.”
The rift between the board and the temple has worsened over the years after the board introduced the golden chariot three years ago to supplement the silver chariot, following the Chettiar community’s refusal to cooperate with the state on certain aspects of organising Thaipusam.
The silver chariot procession today went through a few checkpoints – from Weld Quay, the Kamdar supermarket on Burmah Road, to Island Hospital – before arriving at the Waterfall Hill Temple without much of the usual fanfare.
Some people in vehicles, who were trying to watch the procession, were told by police to disperse.
Penang last month decided to cancel Thaipusam festivities due to the resurgence of Covid-19 infections, disrupting a 164-year-old tradition.
As of yesterday, the state has recorded more than 7,000 virus cases, with 10 deaths. – The Vibes, January 27, 2021
Additional reporting by Arulldas Sinnappan
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