Among the many colourful festivals celebrated by Malaysians in the country, Thaipusam happens to be one of them. This week the vibrant Thaipusam festival celebration as usual will be centred in around the major Lord Murugan temples in the country, namely at Batu Caves, Waterfalls, Penang and Gunong Cheroh in Ipoh.

Several hundreds of thousands of devotees and tourists will be converging at these places. Thaipusam is not only a major religious festival for the country’s Hindus but it has also turned into one of the major tourist attractions.

The festival has also been identified as a major business generating event of the year. The economic activities generated in the short span of the Thaipusam festival runs to several thousands of millions of ringgit for the country.

I therefore appeal to the authorities concerned especially the respective temple committees and to the police to ensure that adequate safety and security measures are in place during Thaipusam and the pre and post Thaipusam chariot processions.

I noticed last year during the chariot procession especially in the late evening, that youths on motorcycles were a nuisance on the roads. They mimic the Mat Rempit stunts riding their noisy bikes dangerously into the crowd.

These youths have no regards whatsoever for the devotee’s safety nor do they have any respect for the police. I understand drug peddlers, pick- pockets and other bad hats too are taking advantage of the large crowd during the festival.

I therefore appeal to the authorities concerned especially to the police to make sure these bad hats are prevented from disturbing the peace and harmony of the festival.

All those hooligans found disturbing or behaving dangerously due to the influence of drugs or alcohol during the chariot procession should be arrested