The Kedah state government has been urged to fulfill its promise in the last election to make Thaipusam a permanent state holiday and not just an occasional one.
Otherwise, the Malaysian Indian Progressive Association (Mipas) secretary-general S Barathidasan said the occasional holiday would just be viewed as a BN ploy to hook Indian votes in the polls.
"Mipas and the majority of Hindu community in this country, especially in Kedah, are disappointed with Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir [...] (who only) declared Jan 24 an ‘occasional state holiday’ (yesterday) in conjunction with Thaipusam.
"Declaring Thaipusam as an occasional state holiday is not a permanent (commitment). This would be another 'wayang kulit' (shadow play) to fish for Indian votes in the 14th general election.
"It is just like throwing in a small fish to catch a big fish," Barathidasan said in a statement today.
Mukhriz, who made the announcement yesterday, said the decision was made at the state exco meeting he chaired in Alor Setar.
During the 2013 general election, BN had promised to make the Hindu festival a holiday if it wrested control of the state from the opposition.
Pakatan Rakyat had earlier made a similar promise, during the 2008 polls.
Barathidasan said Thaipusam was a big event in the northern states and is celebrated by close to 500,000 people in Kedah, Perlis, and Penang.
Thaipusam is currently a public holiday in Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Perak.
"Why not approve (Thaipusam) as an official state holiday like in (the other states)? What's so difficult?" Barathidasan said.
Thaipusam is a festival celebrated during the 10th month of the Hindu calendar.
The festival is popular for acts of devotion that involve body piercings, as penitence or thanksgiving. -Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.