By P. Chandra Sagaran
Security force members, government agencies and volunteers who carried out their duties and work with commitment and dedication feted to a lunch at a hotel here on Monday.
The luncheon was hosted by the office of State Exco in charge of Human Resources, Health,National Integration and Indian Affairs Committee Chairman A.Sivanesan.
Present were Sivanesan, Ipoh Hindu Devasthana Paripalana Sabah Management Committee President R. Seetharaman, Ipoh District Acting Police Chief Supt Mohamad Sajidan Abdul Sukor and representatives from other agencies.
The committee manages the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Sungai Pari and Lord Subramaniar Temple in Gunung Cheroh .
The temples were the focus of the Thaipusam festival with kavadi bearers, milk pot carriers making their vows and chariot procession which was held between Feb 10 to 12.
Sivanesan in his speech thanked the security personnel including police,Rela,Bomba,medical staff and volunteers for their hard work.
‘It was an incident free Thaipusam, all went well with the support of all agencies and volunteers.
“Ipoh City Council employees ensured the roads and other places were kept clean at all times.
“It was also a victory for us after we banned the sale and consumption of alcohol..and it was followed.
“We also managed to reduce the chariot procession from 18 hours in the past to 15 hours after discussion with the committee.
“There was a big crowd of some 350,000 people during the festival compared to the past and it went smoothly on smoothly,”he added
Meanwhile Mohamad Sajidan said,”not a single police report was lodged although there were reports last year on minor incidents.”