DCM says no NSC approval for Penang Thaipusam procession, but cops say otherwise

• Updated with a comment by a Nattukotai Chettiar Temple trustee.
• Updated with a comment from the police

The Thaipusam chariot procession in Penang early this morning did not have approval from the state government or the National Security Council, said Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy.

He also claimed that the Chettiar temple was emboldened to carry out the procession due to "federal intervention" by Human Resources Minister M Saravanan...