Unwell Anwar misses festivities

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim underwent a medical check-up at the National Heart Institute, and resumed his duties after the check-up.

“Following examinations, doctors confirmed that I am in good health,” the Prime Minister said in a Facebook post yesterday, explaining why he could not make it for Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves.

The Prime Minister was ealier anticipated at the festive event.

Instead, he took to Facebook to wish Hindus a Happy Thaipusam.

“Let us together strengthen unity and harmony for the sake of our beloved nation,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar said this year’s celebration was extra meaningful and drew a large crowd of devotees and tourists alike.

He said he would discuss with Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari on a request by the temple committee to build an escalator at the Batu Caves temple.

He noted that the Thaipusam celebration here is an iconic attraction which has gain global popularity and having such a facility would help to draw more visitors to the place.

Batu Caves was a hive of activity with over 1.5 million devotees and tourists thronging the site to celebrate Thaipusam over the past four days.

Hindu devotees from all over the country arrived early yesterday morning to perform rituals such as milk bearing paal kodam, carrying the kavadi and breaking coconuts to fulfil their vows.

The celebration is an important festival for Hindus as it commemorates the event of Goddess Parvati giving her son Lord Murugan a sacred spear to eliminate the evil power, Soorapadman.

1,888 police personnel were deployed to ensure public safety.