By Ling Hui
KUCHING, March 13: Flower sellers by the roadsides in Sibu are not allowed to operate during Ching Ming (Tomb Sweeping Day), warns Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting.
He said these are considered stalls and if such activities are allowed, other eatery premises elsewhere in the district could operate as well.
“I have informed the enforcement team that there would be no such stalls allowed to sell flowers by the roadside during Ching Ming,” he said.
Adding on, he urged the people in Sibu not to gather at restaurants, coffee shops or eateries after the tomb sweeping routine, which he said is sort of a common phenomenon in Sibu.
“Mostly people go for tomb sweeping in families, and after that people have the habit of going for a meal at restaurants or coffee shops.
“I told the people, if you really are going for tomb sweeping this year, don’t gather in big groups outside like reunion dinners,” he urged during Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng’s Facebook live session today.
With Ching Ming just about three weeks away, Ting also advised the people not to go for tomb sweeping, if possible, this year as he was concerned of the enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) at tomb areas.
Touching on this subject, Minister for Local Government and Housing Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, who was also one of the invited guests during the live session, said State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) will request the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) to come up with the SOPs on Monday’s meeting.
Then another piece of advice, he urged everyone to think twice before deciding to go for tomb sweeping as lives are at stake.
Also present at the session were Miri City Council (MCC) mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang and Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang. — DayakDaily
