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GEORGE TOWN: A total of 1,300 police officers and personnel will be on duty during the Thaipusam celebrations in Penang, to ensure that visitors adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) set.

Northeast district police chief, ACP Soffian Santong, said that the public, especially Hindus who attend the Thaipusam celebrations, are advised to abide by the SOPs in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 and compounds will be imposed on those found violating the set SOPs. “Policemen will be stationed at several locations, especially the two temples in Jalan Air Terjun which is the location for the devotees to celebrate Thaipusam, and we have also taken several actions to ensure that visitors who attend comply with the SOPs set.

“Apart from the police, the temple will also place volunteers in the compounds so that those present will follow the instructions and SOPs; this is among others to ensure that there is no Covid-19 outbreak during the celebration,” he told a press conference. He said that several main routes around the city would be closed in stages on Monday and Wednesday, in conjunction with Thaipusam for the gold and silver chariots procession, with only 100 people each accompanied by temple committees who had been given special permits for the purpose.

Soffian said that the procession for the gold chariot will start at 6 am on Monday, departing from the temple in Lebuh Queen, while the silver chariot will depart from the temple in Lebuh Penang at 7am, with both expected to arrive at the Waterfall Temple, involving a journey of 6.5 kilometres (km) in eight to nine hours.