IT is irresponsible of the National Security Council to allow a Thaipusam chariot procession to take place from Kuala Lumpur to Batu Caves at a time of epidemic, said P. Ramasamy.

The Penang deputy chief minister said the NSC should have stood by its previous decision to forbid the processions and events related to Thaipusam nationwide.

Ramasamy said it is not too late for the NSC to cancel the approval for Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam to hold the processions on January 27 and 29. 

Thaipusam falls on January 28.

“If the NSC expects the people in this country to take the pandemic seriously, then it must be seen to be serious and a responsible agency.

“With the rise in Covid-19 cases, social and religious events must be controlled or regulated.

“It cannot allow exceptions here and there to give the impression that we are not serious about flattening the curve.

“Such irresponsible attitude is not going to help in the containment of the pandemic,” said Ramasamy, who is chairman of the Penang Hindu Endowment Board.

He said the Penang government, followed by Selangor and other states, had announced that the processions were cancelled this year.

The NSC had made the same decision only a week later.

However, he added, the NSC’s inconsistency illustrated a larger problem of over-centralisation in Putrajaya.

“The fact that the state, district and local governments might have a better idea of containing the pandemic probably never crossed the minds of the NSC members.

“In other words, the NSC might not be in touch with issues or matters at the state, district and local levels.

 “The top-down approach might be suitable during the early stage of the pandemic but not at the present serious stage.”

He said the U-turn by NSC on this matter showed the council failed to take account of the views of the states

He said while the states wanted a tougher stand on the Thaipusam festival, the NSC had allowed the Batu Caves chariot procession.

 “It is not too late to rescind the latest directive even if Federal Territories Minister Annuar Muda had made a special appeal on behalf of the irresponsible Batu Caves temple committee,” he said.

Annuar said yesterday that the NSC will allow the chariot of Lord Muruga to be travel to Batu Caves on condition that it does not make any stops along the way.

No more than 10 devotees may follow the chariot and music is not allowed.

 He said City Hall would ensure Covid-19 prevention protocols were followed. – January 24, 2021.