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SINGAPORE : Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam has said guidelines on religious processions are not new.
He added that guidelines have now been relaxed to allow for singing of religious hymns.
He met the media to correct a report implying that there were new rules banning the playing of music at the Thaipusam celebrations next week.
This has led to some unhappiness in the Hindu community.
He said The Straits Times article on January 7 titled "Thaipusam set to turn down volume" is incorrect. The article had implied there were new rules such as a ban on playing recorded music or banging gongs and drums.
Guidelines on religious processions like Thaipusam have been around for the last 38 years.
The minister said the existing guidelines strike a balance between the conduct of outdoor religious processions and communal interests for law and order.
Mr Shanmugam added that when there are possible breaches, police will exercise discretion before taking action.
He said: "These rules not only apply to Thaipusam, but to all religious processions. We apply them equally to all and this year we have relaxed the guidelines. I think the concerns have been expressed by a very small number of people based on inaccurate reports."
- CNA/al
He added that guidelines have now been relaxed to allow for singing of religious hymns.
He met the media to correct a report implying that there were new rules banning the playing of music at the Thaipusam celebrations next week.
This has led to some unhappiness in the Hindu community.
He said The Straits Times article on January 7 titled "Thaipusam set to turn down volume" is incorrect. The article had implied there were new rules such as a ban on playing recorded music or banging gongs and drums.
Guidelines on religious processions like Thaipusam have been around for the last 38 years.
The minister said the existing guidelines strike a balance between the conduct of outdoor religious processions and communal interests for law and order.
Mr Shanmugam added that when there are possible breaches, police will exercise discretion before taking action.
He said: "These rules not only apply to Thaipusam, but to all religious processions. We apply them equally to all and this year we have relaxed the guidelines. I think the concerns have been expressed by a very small number of people based on inaccurate reports."
- CNA/al
