Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has assured members of the public that the Thaipusam celebration on the island this weekend will be peaceful, as it has always been in the past years.

“I have spoken to the Penang police chief, Abdul Rahim Hanafi, about this at our monthly Security Meeting yesterday and he said the police have everything under control,” Lim told a press conference at Komtar today.

“There should be no fear about attending the celebration,” he added, saying the Security Meeting, held monthly, was attended by key personnel in the police force and security agencies.

“Our main concern is whether there will be peace and order during Thaipusam, but what is more challenging is how to manage and control traffic congestion,” Lim added.

Police in all states have been on a high security alert following last Thursday’s attack in Jakarta by the IS militant group.

In Penang, the Thaipusam celebration at Waterfall Road, attended yearly by about one million people, including Hindu devotees and tourists, will be at its peak from Friday to Sunday.

On those days, many roads leading to the festival site will be choked with traffic congestion.

Meanwhile, at the same press conference, state executive councillor for Islamic Affairs Abdul Malik Kassim announced that a plot of land would be handed over to a Hindu temple in Batu Maung.

Malik said the temple, located behind the South Bay project, had appealed for a plot of land in the area since 2009.

“Thanks to the chief minister, who oversees the land portfolio in the state, we have managed to acquire the land for the temple,” the PKR Batu Maung assemblyman said.

“This plot of land will be handed over to the Penang Hindu Endowment (PHEB) for further action,” Malik added.

Also during the press conference, Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said the 5,000sq-ft land will be handed over to the temple committee to manage.

“We hope the temple committee can work with the Penang Hindu Endowment Board on this,” said Ramasamy, who chairs the PHEB.