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http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110115-0000233/Minister-clears-air-on-Thaipusam-rules
Minister clears air on Thaipusam rules
by Esther Ng 05:55 AM Jan 15, 2011
SINGAPORE - Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam has come out strongly to correct an article in The Straits Times last week on Thaipusam, which touched on the rules for religious processions here.
The guidelines - which apply to "all religious processions, not just Thaipusam" - have been around for 38 years. They were eased this year, though the article had suggested the opposite, according to Mr Shanmugam.
This year, the rules will - for the first time - allow the singing of hymns, he noted on Friday. But certain quarters have tried to make political capital of the issue, arising from the newspaper report, said the minister.
The Singapore Democratic Party suggested on its website that non-Singaporeans had complained about the noise generated by the Thaipusam procession, which will be held on Jan 20.
Any suggestion that this was the reason for the rules - which include not allowing music from boomboxes, drums and gongs - is "baseless and false", said Mr Shanmugam.
"I know one or two parties have tried saying it for political advantage. First, the fundamental underlying point is factually wrong - that these rules are new. And politicians are ever willing to jump onto the bandwagon and blame foreigners for everything," he said.
"It's sad and irresponsible, but I guess it reflects on people who make these statements."
The Hindu Endowments Board told MediaCorp that it had published the rules in a "brochure" for the past few years, but this was the first time it came up with a "comprehensive" guide.
Mr Shanmugam said participants, organisers, temple leaders and officers on the ground have regularly raised concerns that some participants use the event "as an excuse to be rowdy with the music and were more interested in drinking beer during the event". There has been violence before, he noted.
"(The HEB) tells us that people applying for permits from them have understood the need for the rules," he said.
Taxi driver Panier Selvam, 52, who has carried a "kavadi" for 11 years, understands the need to keep out unruly behaviour but feels that Thaipusam will not be the same without drums: "Cymbals and drums are used in Hindu ceremonies. It's part of our devotional chants and helps to motivate the 'kavadi' bearer."
While the rules are clear, past Thaipusam festivals have actually been accompanied by music.
And Mr Shanmugam said: "Any and every aspect of policing requires a police officer ... to apply the rules firmly and fairly but also sometimes to exercise discretion."
But those who persist in breaking the rules, not just during Thaipusam but any other religious procession, will be "dealt with", he added.
Meanwhile, police presence at this year's festival is not expected to be different from that of past years.
Minister clears air on Thaipusam rules
by Esther Ng 05:55 AM Jan 15, 2011
SINGAPORE - Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam has come out strongly to correct an article in The Straits Times last week on Thaipusam, which touched on the rules for religious processions here.
The guidelines - which apply to "all religious processions, not just Thaipusam" - have been around for 38 years. They were eased this year, though the article had suggested the opposite, according to Mr Shanmugam.
This year, the rules will - for the first time - allow the singing of hymns, he noted on Friday. But certain quarters have tried to make political capital of the issue, arising from the newspaper report, said the minister.
The Singapore Democratic Party suggested on its website that non-Singaporeans had complained about the noise generated by the Thaipusam procession, which will be held on Jan 20.
Any suggestion that this was the reason for the rules - which include not allowing music from boomboxes, drums and gongs - is "baseless and false", said Mr Shanmugam.
"I know one or two parties have tried saying it for political advantage. First, the fundamental underlying point is factually wrong - that these rules are new. And politicians are ever willing to jump onto the bandwagon and blame foreigners for everything," he said.
"It's sad and irresponsible, but I guess it reflects on people who make these statements."
The Hindu Endowments Board told MediaCorp that it had published the rules in a "brochure" for the past few years, but this was the first time it came up with a "comprehensive" guide.
Mr Shanmugam said participants, organisers, temple leaders and officers on the ground have regularly raised concerns that some participants use the event "as an excuse to be rowdy with the music and were more interested in drinking beer during the event". There has been violence before, he noted.
"(The HEB) tells us that people applying for permits from them have understood the need for the rules," he said.
Taxi driver Panier Selvam, 52, who has carried a "kavadi" for 11 years, understands the need to keep out unruly behaviour but feels that Thaipusam will not be the same without drums: "Cymbals and drums are used in Hindu ceremonies. It's part of our devotional chants and helps to motivate the 'kavadi' bearer."
While the rules are clear, past Thaipusam festivals have actually been accompanied by music.
And Mr Shanmugam said: "Any and every aspect of policing requires a police officer ... to apply the rules firmly and fairly but also sometimes to exercise discretion."
But those who persist in breaking the rules, not just during Thaipusam but any other religious procession, will be "dealt with", he added.
Meanwhile, police presence at this year's festival is not expected to be different from that of past years.
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