RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THAIPUSAM

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THAIPUSAM

3.

Mr Viswa Sadasivan asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether he could provide greater clarity on (i) what are the rules and regulations for Thaipusam; (ii) when were these rules first introduced and whether there have been modifications since; (iii) what are the reasons for these rules/modified rules; (iv) why the Hindu Endowments Board decided to specially compile and announce the rules this year; (v) how it was established that residents complained about the noise level; and (vi) whether the same set of rules applies to similar events/processions organised by other religious or cultural groupings.

Mr Shanmugam: The rules governing the conduct of the Thaipusam foot procession are general rules which apply to all religious processions unless specific exemption is given. They were not specifically drafted for the Thaipusam foot procession. These rules are not new. They have been in place for many years. The restriction on the playing of musical instruments en route the procession, in particular, has been in place since 1973.

Temple officials had noted that there have been complaints from residents over noise caused by the Thaipusam procession. However, the rules were not tightened as a result of these complaints. In fact, the main change this year was that Police had relaxed their conditions to allow the singing of religious hymns by participants in the Thaipusam procession. The playing of religious music was also allowed within temple grounds and other public locations approved for festive performances during Thaipusam.

Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) is a statutory board. It does not report to the Ministry of Home Affairs. We understand that HEB decided to compile the conditions imposed pursuant to the rules, as well as some guidance by HEB on religious practices, and issue these guidelines to participants in the Thaipusam procession. This was done to assist the participants.