KUCHING: ‘Balik kampung’ (travelling back to the villages) by crossing zones or districts for the Gawai celebration will not be allowed.
This is among the latest standard operating procedures (SOPs) released on Monday (May 24).
The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) and the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) said that this ruling applied to all areas under the conditional movement control order (CMCO) and enhanced movement control order (EMCO).
It added that while the pre-Gawai celebration on May 31 and Gawai Day celebration on June 1 were allowed in both the CMCO and EMCO areas, they could only be held in the same household or ‘bilik’ (longhouse room).
Activities such as ‘ngabang’ (visiting) as well as social activities such as weddings, engagements, ‘makai selamat’ thanksgiving ceremonies, river bathing rituals for children, cockfighting, telematches (sukaneka) and others are prohibited.
The ‘miring’ ceremony is only allowed in the CMCO areas.
The ‘miring’ ceremony is to be held at a designated place or ‘ruai’ (communal area) that has been set by the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK). Attendance is limited to 10 people only including those in charge of the ritual.
The delivery of the ‘piring’ (plate) to the memorial pole and activities at the memorial pole are also limited to only 10 people.
During the ceremony, longhouse communities are required to wear face masks at all times and observe physical distancing of one-metre.
Those who have symptoms such as fever, cough and flu are not allowed to participate in the miring ceremony.
In addition, recording of attendance is a must and can be done either via the MySejahtera mobile application or an attendance book.
SDMC and Unifor also stressed that all JKKKs were required to monitor and ensure SOP compliance in the villages or longhouses during the Gawai celebration.
