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SIBU, Aug 14: Sibu residents are advised to apply for a permit to perform any customary rituals in public places in conjunction with Zhong Yuan Festival (or Ghost Festival), which falls on Aug 30.
Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) said free permit application forms are available at the SMC office (Level 20, Wisma Sanyan) and UTC Counter (Level 4, UTC).
The applicant must propose a suitable location within the public domain and submit such proposed locality plan to SMC for consideration and approval.
“The council may consider approving such application if and when such proposed location is within the grass area of any road verge which does not cause unnecessary nuisance to the adjacent neighbourhood area and does not cause any unnecessary fire and health hazards.
“Please be informed that it is strictly forbidden to carry out any such ritual involving burning of large scale or of high-risk nature near or close to any roadway, any building, any public garden or park and any forested area of any size and shape,” said SMC in a statement.
SMC reserves the right to withdraw any approved permit if and when any unforeseeable error or mistake occurs in the approving process.
Permit holders are advised to provide a burning bowl, bucket or mini furnace with a diameter not exceeding 50 cm for any burning ritual in such a ceremony.
They must personally manage or supervise the burning, and such burning shall not be prolonged for more than 30 minutes.
They must ensure that the burning is put out or extinguished after the ceremony to prevent fire hazards.
They must also clean up the location within two days after the ceremony. — DayakDaily
