In Singapore, every major race is given two days of religious or cultural holiday. The Chinese have Chinese New Year (CNY), which lasts for two days. Malays, who are predominantly Muslim, are given holidays for Hari Raya Haji and Hari Raya Puasa. Indians are given Deepavali and Vesak Day. Hence, Thaipusam could not be made a holiday for Indian Hindus.
However, who observes Vesak Day? It is a Buddhist holiday. Buddhism originated in India, but by and large, the world’s biggest population of Buddhists, are East Asian. In Singapore, this means it is the Singaporean Chinese who are mostly Buddhist. Why is it gazetted as an Indian holiday when there are so few Indians celebrating it?
Thaipusam should be made a holiday in Singapore from 2016 in the interest of fairness to all races in Singapore.
Please sign this petition that will be sent to the Public Petitions Committee of the Parliament of Singapore asking to make Thaipusam a holiday in Singapore.
LETTER TO
Chairman, Public Petitions Comittee, Parliament of Singapore Mdm Halimah Yacob
In Singapore, every major race is given two days of religious or cultural holiday. The Chinese have Chinese New Year (CNY), which lasts for two days. Malays, who are predominantly Muslim, are given holidays for Hari Raya.
Sangeetha Thanapal
Source: www.change.org
