MIRI: Families who will be visiting the cemeteries or columbariums to pay their respects to their dearly departed in conjunction with Ching Ming Jie or Chinese All Souls Day have been urged to stagger their visiting times and strictly comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Senadin assemblyman Datuk Lee Kim Shin said this is to prevent and avoid any Ching Ming cluster.
“We must all work together and comply with the SOPs. During the Chinese New Year (CNY), we have been doing very well where there is no CNY cluster.
“That is why together with me, the Miri Division deputy health officer Dr Wong Khung Ying and Health Ministry’s chief health inspector Ling Hain Teck are making an extra effort to visit the cemetery and columbarium to inform them on SOPs issued by Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) that needs to be followed and emphasised on the importance of complying with the SOPs,” he stressed.
He said this when visiting the Krokop Cemetery to explain Ching Ming Jie SOPs to the cemetery committee.
“For this Ching Ming Jie, SDMC has allowed it to be held from March 20 to April 14, therefore family members can stagger their visits, and do not need to visit at one time.
“Also, in the past during Ching Ming Jie, there would be a big gathering of family members of 30 to 50 people. So, now we should just go by per family.
“We must avoid any social gathering at all cost, this is because the recent two Covid-19 clusters in Miri have resulted from social gatherings,” he pointed out.
The minister-in-charge of Miri Divisional Disaster Management (DDMC) added that he too went to the Riam Road Cemetery to pay respects to his parents, and there were only five family members with him during the visit.
“When family members arrange to stagger their visit at different dates and times, this will reduce the risk of the transmission,” he said.
In the meantime, Lee urged the cemetery committee to follow only the official SOPs as released by SDMC or the government, to avoid any confusion.
During the visit, the Ching Ming Jie SOPs have been printed in Mandarin and distributed to the cemetery committee.
Also present was Miri Chinese Charitable Trust Board chairman Temenggong Yong Vui Seng.
