GEORGE TOWN – Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy is confident that the Penang government is capable of resolving the spat with the Nattukottai Chettiar temple over the silver chariot procession during last week’s Thaipusam celebration.
Ramasamy, who chairs the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB), assured the community that the matter will be resolved, just like the golden chariot issue years ago.
The Chettiars had said PHEB’s golden chariot might cause confusion among devotees when the idea was first mooted in 2016.
“I have nothing personal against them, Thaipusam celebrations were cancelled to contain the pandemic. Don’t you think that we wanted to run our golden chariot as well?
“The decision was taken in good faith. However, the Chettiar temple committee must answer for defying the state’s order. It could have talked to us about having the procession but it did not.
“It must realise Penang is under the Pakatan Harapan government but it went to MIC leaders and the Perikatan Nasional federal government to fulfil its request.”
Yesterday, community elders urged PHEB and the Chettiars to make peace following the controversial chariot procession.
Swami Ramaji of Hindu Sevai Sangam from Kuala Lumpur and Penang Hindu Association president P. Murugiah reflected the community’s view to call for peace between PHEB and the Nattukottai Chettiar temple management.
Both parties got into a public spat after the Chettiar temple committee ignored a state directive to not hold any processions.
The trustees sought federal government intervention and got the nod from the National Security Council (NSC) for the chariot to undertake its journey, with regulations in place.
The move angered Ramasamy, who threatened to issue show-cause letters and even mulled the board’s takeover of the Chettiar temple management.
The silver chariot, which belongs to the Chettiars from Kovil Veedu in Penang Street, began its annual 7km journey around 3.30am on January 27, despite the Penang government’s stance on barring public Thaipusam celebrations this year, including the 164-year-old tradition of chariot processions. – The Vibes, February 4, 2021
