GEORGE TOWN, Jan 25 – The Thaipusam celebration in Penang went smoothly since yesterday and police were constantly maintaining a close watch on the situation to ensure there was no outbreak of undesired incidents. State police chief Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Hanafi said, however, there were traffic congestions on several roads in the city due to the large number of visitors and foreign tourists taking part in the celebration.
Members of the public, especially Hindu devotees, need not be afraid about attending the Thaipusam celebration as the police were always monitoring the situation and were prepared to face any possibility, he told reporters after observing the celebration at Jalan Kebun Bunga, here Sunday.
Asked on the explosion of the coconut-shaped firecrackers that damaged three houses on Lorong Sembilang 3, Taman Sembilang in Seberang Jaya early yesterday morning, Abdul Rahim said it was believed the explosion was linked to a debt due to a loan shark.
He said police have identified two local men aged in their 20’s suspected of being involved in the incident and one of them is a loan shark. In the incident at about 3 am, three houses were damaged believed to be caused by a high-powered explosion from coconut-shaped firecrackers hurled by two individuals riding a motorcycle.
