Fun fair permit under consideration
A ferris wheel at Batu Caves during Thaipusam last year.By VEENA BABULAL SELAYANG streets@nstp.com.my
01 February 2012
THE Selayang Municipal Council is mulling over the possibility of allowing a fun fair operator to set up amusement rides at Batu Caves, said Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) public relations director Mohamad Zin Masoad. He said the council had received the application for a permit and would decide soon based on the state's law on entertainment.
"If the rides comply with the public safety and interest requirements in the enactment, then we will give the operator the green light," he said, adding that the fun fair during Thaipusam would be set up at a vacant lot in the temple grounds.
Detractors of the amusement rides argue that temple grounds are sacred and having such amusement in religious grounds was sacrilegious, while poorly maintained rides could pose a threat to public safety.
Hindu Sangam president R.S. Mohan Shan said: "A temple is a place of worship, not a carnival.
"The temple could instead organise cultural shows in line with the religious tone of the festival."
Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam temple committee chairman Datuk R. Nadarajah, however, supports having the amusement rides.
"People come with children from outside Klang Valley for the festival.
"Some come from Kedah and the east coast and have no means to travel home immediately. They end up spending the night here, so such rides are important to keep these families occupied," he said, adding such rides were common, even in India during festivals.
Nadarajah called on the public to be pragmatic as the rides were located quite a distance from the nearest temple.
Last year, MPS acting chairman Jaid Ehsan said no fun fair permit would be issued for Thaipusam celebrations this year.
Jaid added it would no longer approve applications to set up fun fairs at places of worship.
A week prior to his statement, MPS directed the operator of the fun fair in Batu Caves to cease operations during Thaipusam after the state government directed local authorities in the state to stop issuing permits to fun fair operators to operate within places of worship during religious festivals.
The directive was issued after individuals and non-governmental organisations, citing public safety, called for the closure of the fun fair at the compound of the Batu Caves temple. It was also reported that the operator of the rides had not applied for a permit from MPS and as such it was illegal and was issued a notice to that effect.
However, a day later the council did an about turn by giving the operator the green light.
The council stated that the approval was merely a conditional approval and was based on the operator's adherence to safety requirements.Read more: Fun fair permit under consideration - Central - New Straits Times
"If the rides comply with the public safety and interest requirements in the enactment, then we will give the operator the green light," he said, adding that the fun fair during Thaipusam would be set up at a vacant lot in the temple grounds.
Detractors of the amusement rides argue that temple grounds are sacred and having such amusement in religious grounds was sacrilegious, while poorly maintained rides could pose a threat to public safety.
Hindu Sangam president R.S. Mohan Shan said: "A temple is a place of worship, not a carnival.
"The temple could instead organise cultural shows in line with the religious tone of the festival."
Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam temple committee chairman Datuk R. Nadarajah, however, supports having the amusement rides.
"People come with children from outside Klang Valley for the festival.
"Some come from Kedah and the east coast and have no means to travel home immediately. They end up spending the night here, so such rides are important to keep these families occupied," he said, adding such rides were common, even in India during festivals.
Nadarajah called on the public to be pragmatic as the rides were located quite a distance from the nearest temple.
Last year, MPS acting chairman Jaid Ehsan said no fun fair permit would be issued for Thaipusam celebrations this year.
Jaid added it would no longer approve applications to set up fun fairs at places of worship.
A week prior to his statement, MPS directed the operator of the fun fair in Batu Caves to cease operations during Thaipusam after the state government directed local authorities in the state to stop issuing permits to fun fair operators to operate within places of worship during religious festivals.
The directive was issued after individuals and non-governmental organisations, citing public safety, called for the closure of the fun fair at the compound of the Batu Caves temple. It was also reported that the operator of the rides had not applied for a permit from MPS and as such it was illegal and was issued a notice to that effect.
However, a day later the council did an about turn by giving the operator the green light.
The council stated that the approval was merely a conditional approval and was based on the operator's adherence to safety requirements.Read more: Fun fair permit under consideration - Central - New Straits Times
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