Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow has criticised the state Pakatan leaders for putting up their billboards at the island’s Thaipusam celebrations.

According to Bernama , Teng said BN Penang never did such things as it was akin to promoting themselves during a religious festival.

He was referring to a large billboard bearing the portrait of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng along with Lord Murugan at the entrance of the kavadi procession route.      

The billboard also bore the portraits of DAP chairman Karpal Singh, Datuk Keramat state assemblyman Jagdeep Singh, Sri Delima state assemblyman RSN Rayer, Bagan Dalam state assemblyman A Thanasekaran and Prai state assemblyman P Ramasamy.      

"It is akin to promoting political parties at a religious celebration. This was not the practice of the previous BN state government," he said in a Bernama report today.

However billboards of Prime Minister Najib Razak had been observed at Thaipusam festivals in the past such as in Batu Caves.

Bernama further reported more than 100,000 Hindu devotees and tourists today gathered at the temples in Georgetown along Jalan Kebun Bunga, with the devotees fulfilling vows, some by carrying the 'kavadi', and the tourists watching the colourful celebration.

As of 1 pm, the area was packed with devotees, kavadi bearers and tourists, and they proceeded to the hilltop Sri Arulmigu Balathandayuthabani Temple.      

Several members of the Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) committee called at the ‘ thaneer panthal ’ (refreshment stalls) along Jalan Kebun Bunga and Jalan Air Terjun to chat with the operators and visitors.     

Teng said the committee was considering a proposal by the Hindu devotees to build an escalator to make it easier for visitors to get to the hilltop Sri Arulmigu Balathandayuthabani Temple which can be reached now by climbing 513 steps.      

"We will implement the project if the people give the BN the mandate to administer the state (in the next general election).

“An escalator will make it easy for the elderly, children and physically challenged people to visit the temple," he told reporters.