1,300 policemen to ensure smooth Thaipusam celebration in Penang

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 15 -- A total of 1,300 police officers and personnel will be on duty during the Thaipusam celebrations in Penang, to ensure that visitors adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) set.

Northeast district police chief, ACP Soffian Santong, said that the public, especially Hindus who attend the Thaipusam celebrations, are advised to abide by the SOPs in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 and compounds will be imposed on those found violating the set SOPs.

“Policemen will be stationed at several locations, especially the two temples in Jalan Air Terjun which is the location for the devotees to celebrate Thaipusam, and we have also taken several actions to ensure that visitors who attend comply with the SOPs set.

“Apart from the police, the temple will also place volunteers in the compounds so that those present will follow the instructions and SOPs; this is among others to ensure that there is no COVID-19 outbreak during the celebration,” he told a press conference today.

He said that several main routes around the city would be closed in stages on Monday and Wednesday, in conjunction with Thaipusam for the gold and silver chariots procession, with only 100 people each accompanied by temple committees who had been given special permits for the purpose.

Soffian said that the procession for the gold chariot will start at 6 am on Monday, departing from the temple in Lebuh Queen, while the silver chariot will depart from the temple in Lebuh Penang at 7 am, with both expected to arrive at the Waterfall Temple, involving a journey of 6.5 kilometres (km) in eight to nine hours.

“The two carts will pass through Lebuh Chulia, Gat Lebuh Chulia, Lebuh Victoria, Gat Jalan Prangin, Jalan C.Y Choy, Jalan Megazine, Jalan Datuk Keramat, Jalan Utama and Jalan Air Terjun. During the journey, the two carts will stop at five and seven temples respectively, for religious ceremonies.

“A total of 70 police officers and personnel will escort and control the journey of the two carts to ensure safety and that they comply with SOPs, and I advise the public to follow the instructions of the police,” he said.

He said that both chariots would march back to Lebuh Queen and Lebuh Penang on Wednesday at 6 pm and 7 pm over a distance of 8.7 km, also accompanied by the temple committee and controlled by 70 officers and policemen.

The return journey will begin from the Waterfall Temple through Jalan Air Terjun, Jalan Gottlieb, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Cantonment, Jalan Macalister, Jalan Anson, Jalan Burma, Jalan Tranfer, Jalan Sri Bahari, Lebuh Campbell and Lebuh Chulia.

“It will then pass along Lebuh Pit, Lebuh Bishop, Lebuh Penang, Lebuh King, Lebuh China, Lebuh Pantai, Lebuh Pasar, Lebuh Queen, and Lebuh Penang. There will be no stops for the return journey,” he said.

According to him, apart from the police, the Ministry of Health (MOH), together with the Unity Department, will also monitor compliance with the SOPs during the Thaipusam celebrations, and compounds will be issued to those who are found to be in clear violation of the SOPs.

-- BERNAMA