BATU CAVES: The Batu Caves Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple here is expected to get a new hall with a capacity of 3,000 people soon.
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said the temple management approached him with the proposal for a multipurpose hall to be built within the temple compound for its devotees.
He said the hall which could cost up to RM5 million would be used for the temple's future spiritual activities, among others.
"The temple has put forward a proposal for the hall and we now need to get funding, in order to get the project started," he said in his Thaipusam celebration speech at the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple Batu Caves, this afternoon.
Also present during the officiation ceremony were National Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique, Maha Mariamman Temple Committee chairman Datuk N. Sivakumar, Selangor state exco member Ganapathy Rao and temple chairman Tan Sri R. Nadarajah.
"No doubt the atmosphere (this time) is unlike the Thaipusam we have been seen before, with no crowd, no stalls, no Kavadis but we dont have a choice.
"Some people have condemned and questioned why the government banned devotees from carrying the peacock kavadis and the need to strictly follow SOPs while from performing their prayers on social media but least they know how hard we worked for the approval.
"It's very easy to talk from where you are but only those, like the temple management, state excos and those directly involved in this year's Thaipusam arrangement know the lengths we went to make this happen," he said adding that Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob were the two people with the authority to decide.
He said initially the government was reluctant to allow anyone to participate in the procession in fear of Covid-19 infection, but this changed when they shared the significance of the festival.
"Thaipusam is not just a celebration for the Hindus but it is the identity of Hindus living in this country. As sad as it may seem, we should be grateful that we can still fulfill our vows by carrying the milk pot kavadis to the Lord.
"We understand the devotees' (kavadi bearers) frustration and disappointment for not being allowed to carry their usual kavadis, but unfortunately we are still in a pandemic," he said.
He added as a kavadi bearer himself, he too felt let down when the government announced the ban on taking kavadi.
"I am sad that I cannot fulfill my penance again this year, but as soon as the new recovery phase is implemented, I am sure to fulfill it as I have been carrying the kavadi since 1990," he said.
He also added Indians at large in Malaysia were very unhappy with the government's Thaipusam SOPs.
Saravanan, who is also the Human Resource Minister expressed disappointment on critics who questioned his role in representing the Indian Community.
"They are of the view that I have done nothing to fight for the rights of Indians.
"When they ask me why Thaipusam has such a tight SOP but shopping at Pavilion or Pasar Malam Tuanku Abdul Rahman is allowed, what do I answer them...
"I may not be the health minister or unity minister but as a leader, I have a responsibility towards my community," he said.
Saravanan also complimented the devotees for diligently fulfilling their penance while observing all the SOPs
The devotees present today showed they were able to comply with the government's Thaipusam SOPs, despite it the celebration being downplayed without the Kavadis, Urumi players, big crowd and a variety of activities.
Gombak District Police chief ACP Zainal Mohamed Mohamed said 1,300 police personnel were deployed to control the crowd and monitor standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance as well as ensure the smooth running of the Thaipusam celebration at Batu Caves today.
"The personnel are on duty from 7pm on Sunday (Jan 16) until midnight Jan 21," he said.
This year's Thaipusam was celebrated in moderation under strict Covid-19 SOPs with less than a quarter of the usual crowd being present.