Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) chairman P Ramasamy said he was shocked to learn that the silver chariot procession would now leave on Feb 7 at 11pm. He said the move was “irresponsible”.
Thaipusam falls on Feb 9 and the silver chariot procession usually takes off on the eve at 6.30am.
The announcement was made by the Chettiars’ representative, N Ramanathan, and front-paged today by Tamil daily Malaysia Nanban.
Ramasamy said the news report of the change comes as a surprise as the Chettiars did not raise the matter during a logistics meeting with police chiefs on Jan 11.
He said the Chettiars also did not object to the Hilltop Murugan Temple’s inaugural golden chariot leaving 90 minutes before them, at 5am.
“The Chettiars did not object to our proposals. They also had reaffirmed what was agreed to by police.
“If there was a change, why did they not raise it at a meeting? Now they have thrown a spanner in the works.
“This is irresponsible, mischievous and an act that goes against police advice. You cannot unilaterally change the procession as you like,” Ramasamy said at a press conference in Komtar today.
“There are many agencies involved, such as the emergency response teams, police and fire department. Hence, the meeting with police earlier.” he said.
Ramasamy said since the Chettiars had taken it upon themselves to hold the procession earlier, the PHEB would “match” their move by leaving two hours before their planned procession at 9pm on Feb 7.
“The state Thaipusam committee is the highest decision-making body on procession matters. There was no notification made to us as well.
“Since they have taken the liberty to decide on the time, anyone can start any time then.”
The PHEB, a statutory body charged with overseeing Hindu affairs in Penang, has been in the spotlight after they commissioned a golden chariot for this year’s Thaipusam celebrations.
The Chettiars had run a silver chariot for 159 years and it has been widely regarded as the de facto chariot for Thaipusam celebrations in Penang. It was never questioned by Penang Hindus and has a large following.
The silver chariot runs from a Chettiar quarters-cum-storage unit called “Kovil Veedu” in Penang Street, George Town, to the Chettiar Temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga.
Traditionally, most Thaipusam chariot processions proceed from a Mariamman temple to a Murugan temple.
The PHEB, in 2012, decided to commission a golden chariot for the Hilltop Murugan Temple. It had been without a chariot for some 100 years, the board says.
Attempts by FMT to reach Nattukottai Chettiar trustee M Renganathan for comments failed.