The human resources minister said he met Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to discuss the matter, adding that his response was positive to the request for these processions to be held.

Saravanan said national unity minister Halimah Sadique would be announcing the SOPs soon, according to Bernama.

“Yesterday, Halimah held a meeting with Hindu religious leaders and representatives of temples after the Cabinet meeting and various matters were discussed,” he told reporters after officiating at the MIC Youth, Wanita, Putera and Puteri wings’annual delegates’ meeting at Wisma MCA here today.

He said a meeting would be held next Tuesday with Hindu religious leaders and representatives of temples to discuss matters related to the celebration.

On Dec 7, Halimah told the Dewan Rakyat that all festive processions, including the chariot procession for Thaipusam and chingay in conjunction with the Chinese New Year were not allowed as the country was currently facing the threat of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron.

However, after facing criticism from various quarters, her ministry issued a statement saying that Covid-19 SOPs for the Thaipusam celebration had not been finalised. Thaipusam is on Jan 18.

Earlier, when addressing the delegates of the four MIC wings, Saravanan urged them to change their way of thinking in navigating the party in preparation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0.)

He said the MIC could no longer be seen as a party that gave handouts but one that created more jobs for Indians.