This was said by Northeast District police chief ACP Mior Faridalathrash Wahid.

He issued the statement in response to Penang PKR youth leader A. Kumaresan who said the wing regretted the arrests of the 20 people in relation to the kavadi bearing the Nazi symbol.

Kumaresan had said the police should have referred the matter to the Hindu authorities before taking such action.

But Mior said today that the use of the Nazi symbol is not only condemned by the world community but that it was typical of gangs to use it here as their reference to aggression, violence and hatred.

“In our heterogeneous society, we cannot tolerate nor condone the use of the Nazi symbol. Thaipusam draws visitors from all over the world and we should not portray this condemned symbol as part of our culture,” he said in a statement today.

He said the role of the police during Thaipusam was to maintain law and order and to ensure that devotees and visitors alike were ensured of their safety and well-being.

“This is our utmost priority and we cannot allow a group of youths to put fear in devotees and visitors,” he added.