Human Resources Minister M Saravanan has come under fire after devotees questioned why he could celebrate Thaipusam at the Batu Caves temple without wearing a mask.
They claimed he committed an egregious breach of lockdown rules by turning up at the temple.
In a video that is going viral, a maskless Saravanan is seen being garlanded at the Batu Caves temple by temple chairperson R Nadarajah, who himself has dropped his mask to his chin.
To top it all off, Saravanan is then accompanied by trumpet blowers for a walkabout.
Nadarajah earlier told those looking forward to watching the Thaipusam chariot make its annual trip from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Dhevasthanam in Jalan Tun HS Lee, Kuala Lumpur to the Batu Caves temple in Selangor to watch it online.
Saravanan told news site Free Malaysia Today that he had been invited because he was involved in assisting the temple over the last week on various matters to ensure Thaipusam was celebrated minus the crowd.
"I am also the Hindu Endowment representative in the cabinet.
"I was given permission by the police to be present at the temple.
"Those who attended the occasion observed strict Covid-19 SOPs and were limited in number, as applied by the temple committee in accordance with the guidelines. The proceedings were also monitored by the authorities," he said.
He added that as a precautionary measure to avoid overcrowding, he was not accompanied by his staff nor his family as that would have violated SOPs.
He said the removal of his mask was only for a fleeting moment.
"I removed the mask just for a second to give way for the garland as a mark of respect. I had my mask on all the time after that.
However, the MIC deputy president did concede that being surrounded by the musicians may not have been the wisest move.
"It was not within my control as the playing of the music was already there before my arrival.
"It is well-known that I am an avid devotee of Lord Murugan and I have never missed celebrating the festival by carrying a kavadi alongside my family annually. - Mkini
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