The Malaysian Indian Youth Council Penang branch claims the Seri Delima assemblyman was responsible for stopping extension of a PA system.
BUTTERWORTH: A local Indian NGO leader has accused Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer of politicising next week’s Thaipusam festival in Penang.
Malaysian Indian Youth Council Penang branch chairman Reghu Devan Lopez claimed that Rayer was responsible in stopping the extension of single public address system until the Penang Sports Club tannir panthal (refreshment shed) near the Jalan Scotland-Jalan Utama junction.
Reghu claimed that he learnt Rayer’s interference on the issue when he called a certain state government official yesterday.
“This is religious matter and it should not be politicised.
“The single PA system will maintain a peaceful, harmonious and crime-free religious festival,” he told a press conference here today.
Also present were state chairmen of Malaysia Hindu Sangam chairman G Shanmuganathan and V Nandakumar, and Penang Indian Sports and Recreational Club president M Karthi.
Currently, the single PA system runs for 2.5km from the Waterfall hilltop temple, Balathandayuthabani Kovil until the Jalan Brown-Jalan Utama junction.
During a meeting organised by the hilltop temple with tannir panthal operators in Caring Society Complex on Jan 18, a resolution was adopted to extend the system for another kilometre.
However, a furious protest by some 200 affected tannir panthal operators on Jan 27 outside the hilltop temple office in Jalan Air Terjun had forced the temple management committee to back track on the plan.
In a petition handed over to the temple management committee via Rayer, the panthal operators claimed that the extension would surely “kill” the festive atmosphere of Thaipusam, and transform it into a mourning religious procession.
“Thaipusam will be dead, we don’t need to celebrate it anymore,” they argued.
Shanmuganathan said he was told that the decision to disallow the extension was taken by relevant authorities seemingly because it would affect the Indian votes for DAP.
“I don’t understand how it will affect votes.
“We proposed the single PA system because we want Thaipusam to be held in an organised way.
“We are in a way helping the police to combat and reduce crime rates among Indian youths,” he added.
He claimed that the current system which allowed panthals to play their own music was among the main reasons behind rising crime, gangsterism and unruly behaviour among Hindu youths.
“Anyway, we want the single PA system to be implemented next year.
“We cannot afford to drag on this issue and allow politics to get in between religious issues,” said Shanmuganathan.
BUTTERWORTH: A local Indian NGO leader has accused Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer of politicising next week’s Thaipusam festival in Penang.Malaysian Indian Youth Council Penang branch chairman Reghu Devan Lopez claimed that Rayer was responsible in stopping the extension of single public address system until the Penang Sports Club tannir panthal (refreshment shed) near the Jalan Scotland-Jalan Utama junction.
Reghu claimed that he learnt Rayer’s interference on the issue when he called a certain state government official yesterday.
“This is religious matter and it should not be politicised.
“The single PA system will maintain a peaceful, harmonious and crime-free religious festival,” he told a press conference here today.
Also present were state chairmen of Malaysia Hindu Sangam chairman G Shanmuganathan and V Nandakumar, and Penang Indian Sports and Recreational Club president M Karthi.
Currently, the single PA system runs for 2.5km from the Waterfall hilltop temple, Balathandayuthabani Kovil until the Jalan Brown-Jalan Utama junction.
During a meeting organised by the hilltop temple with tannir panthal operators in Caring Society Complex on Jan 18, a resolution was adopted to extend the system for another kilometre.
However, a furious protest by some 200 affected tannir panthal operators on Jan 27 outside the hilltop temple office in Jalan Air Terjun had forced the temple management committee to back track on the plan.
In a petition handed over to the temple management committee via Rayer, the panthal operators claimed that the extension would surely “kill” the festive atmosphere of Thaipusam, and transform it into a mourning religious procession.“Thaipusam will be dead, we don’t need to celebrate it anymore,” they argued.
Shanmuganathan said he was told that the decision to disallow the extension was taken by relevant authorities seemingly because it would affect the Indian votes for DAP.
“I don’t understand how it will affect votes.
“We proposed the single PA system because we want Thaipusam to be held in an organised way.
“We are in a way helping the police to combat and reduce crime rates among Indian youths,” he added.
He claimed that the current system which allowed panthals to play their own music was among the main reasons behind rising crime, gangsterism and unruly behaviour among Hindu youths.
“Anyway, we want the single PA system to be implemented next year.
“We cannot afford to drag on this issue and allow politics to get in between religious issues,” said Shanmuganathan.
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