Compiled by TARRENCE TAN, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN
THE Prime Minister’s widely anticipated visit to the Batu Caves temple for the Thaipusam festival on Sunday, which failed to materialise, has met with widespread disappointment among the Indian community, Makkal Osai reported.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said he was unwell on Thaipusam Day and received the all-clear from the National Heart Institute (IJN) the same day.
He later posted a photo on social media showing him back at work in his office with three staff members, including his daughter Nurul Izzah, who is his senior economics and financial adviser, and his chief political secretary Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin.
Those who spoke to the daily expressed admiration for his work ethic at the age of 75 for getting back to work so quickly after a medical check-up and on a Sunday.
However, many could not hide their disappointment at the Prime Minister’s no-show at Batu Caves despite an all-clear at IJN, and especially when he was well enough to return to work.
His presence at the important Hindu festival for the first time after taking office as PM would have brought much joy to the community, many said.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
