MCO no reason to cancel Thaipusam holiday, says Najib

MCO no reason to cancel Thaipusam holiday, says Najib

Former prime minister says Hindu families can still celebrate Thaipusam at home.

The Thaipusam festival in Kedah is celebrated grandly in Sungai Petani but it has been called off this year.
PETALING JAYA:
Najib Razak has added his voice to the chorus against the cancellation of the Thaipusam holiday by the Kedah government, saying the movement control order (MCO) may have stopped the celebrations but Hindus still observe it.

Taking to Facebook, the former prime minister said there was no need for the Thaipusam holiday to be cancelled just because the activities related to the annual festival are not allowed in public due to the MCO.

He was responding to Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s announcement yesterday that there would be no public holiday for Thaipusam in the state this year with the MCO ruling out any celebration.

Najib said Thaipusam is among the most important festivals for Hindus in Malaysia with a number of states declaring it a public holiday for decades.

“Even though this year’s celebrations are affected by the MCO, there is no need to cancel the public holiday because Hindu families can still celebrate it at home.

“Let us maintain this tradition. We are 1Malaysia.”

Sanusi has come under fire from Indian leaders from both sides of the political divide and social media users over the decision, with human resources minister and MIC deputy president M Saravanan saying the state government’s decision reeks of arrogance and ignorance.

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