A VIRAL message saying Ipoh police prevented Hindus from performing religious activities during the Buntong Idugathu Kaliamman festival is untrue, police said.

District police chief Yahaya Hassan said the message, which went viral on WhatsApp, is defamatory and malicious, and aimed to undermine the force’s credibility.

“Ipoh police respect every person’s right to carry out religious activities as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, and have never prevented anyone from holding a religious ceremony.

“In this matter, we only advised and asked for cooperation from the temple to postpone the chariot and kavadi parade from April 21 to 23 as it clashes with the Aidilfitri celebration,” he said in a statement today.

Yahaya said the parade would cause traffic congestion and pose a risk to public safety in the vicinity.

However, he said, police have no problem with religious activities held within the temple compound, and that the matter had already been explained to the organiser.

Yahaya said the organiser denied its involvement in spreading the false and defamatory message.

He advised the public not to be misled by the baseless accusation and to refrain from speculating about the message.

“Police will take stern action against irresponsible parties that spread the message under section 505(b) of the penal code and section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,” he said. – Bernama, April 22, 2023.