1,600 policemen to ensure security, control traffic at Ipoh Thaipusam celebration

The police are to deploy 1,600 personnel to ensure security and control traffic in the vicinity of the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Gunung Cheruh here during Thaipusam on Sunday.

Ipoh Police chief ACP Sum Chang Keong said today the police expected about 100,000 Hindus and tourists to gather at the temple for the annual festival.

Several roads in the city would be closed in stages and traffic would be diverted between Saturday and Monday to allow passage of the chariot procession and 'kavadi' bearers, he told reporters after the monthly assembly at the Ipoh Police headquarters here.

The affected roads were the Jalan Istana exit to Jalan Raja Musa, the exit road from the Land and Mines Department building, the hospital roundabout and Jalan Kuala Kangsar, he said.

Sum advised people heading to the temple to park their vehicles at Medan Ipoh Raya and along Jalan Hospital and Jalan Raja Musa Aziz as well as the entry and exit roads of the Padang Tembak Police housing area.

He also advised motorists to use alternative roads to get to the city centre to avoid traffic congestion, and to obey the instructions of the police.