Malaysia announces Lunar New Year epidemic prevention procedures

Source: China News Network

Kuala Lumpur, January 19 (China News Service) -- The Malaysian government announced the Lunar New Year epidemic prevention process on the 19th, and festivals such as lion and dragon dances, which are concerned by the local Chinese community, are allowed to be held under the premise of taking into account the safety of epidemic prevention.

Malaysia's Minister of National Solidarity Halima said at a relevant press conference on the same day that activities such as lion and dragon dances will be allowed, but must comply with the epidemic prevention standard operating procedures that will be announced later.

Compared with last year's Lunar New Year, which only allows relatives living in neighbors and a limited number of relatives to attend the reunion dinner, the Malaysian government this year relaxed restrictions to allow unlimited relatives to hold dinners; this year's epidemic prevention process also approved Chinese communities to hold banquets, but required organizers to limit the scope of banquet invitations.

Halima also announced that during the Lunar New Year, people will be allowed to pay homage to each other under the condition of abiding by epidemic prevention regulations; on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, people will be allowed to hold a ceremony of "worshiping the heavens" derived from the Chinese tradition in southern Fujian, China; and Chinese will be allowed to go to the palace temple and other places to pray for blessings during the Lunar New Year.

Halima stressed that all celebrations of the Lunar New Year should be carried out in accordance with epidemic prevention regulations to ensure that the public can safely celebrate the Lunar New Year. (End)