KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 9 (Sin Chew Daily) — Funeral industry players and cemetery operators have drafted standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the upcoming Qing Ming festival.

The SOPs cover the number of visitors, time and age of visitors to the cemetery and columbarium to ensure safety for all.

This year's Qing Ming falls on April 4, as the Chinese pay tribute to their ancestors from late March till mid-April.

The Kwang Tung Cemetery Kuala Lumpur has set a limit of four people from each family to visit their ancestors' graves for one hour, and 30 minutes for columbarium.

The Kwang Tung Cemetery Kuala Lumpur committee urges members of the public to avoid weekends or the actual day of Qing Ming while planning their visits.

The committee also urges the public to simplify the praying rites and cut short praying time to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection.

If the government were to issue Qing Ming SOPs, it would comply with the SOPs, it said.

Committee chairman Li Zheng Guang said the SOPs drafted by the committee included only one joss stick for prayer at cemetery's Tua Pek Kong temple. Staff stationed at the cemetery would be taking the joss sticks from members of the public to be placed at the furnace. The temple itself will not be opened during the weekends. Members of the public are urged to clean up the site after performing their prayers.

"During this special period of time, we call upon senior citizens over the age of 70 and children below 12 to refrain from visiting the cemetery.

"We encourage members of the public to use flowers and fruits for prayers. Our concern is public safety," he added.

The peak days to observe Qing Ming are March 21 (Sunday), 27 and 28 (Saturday and Sunday), April 3 and 4 (Saturday and Sunday), 10 and 11 (Saturday and Sunday), 17 and 18 (Saturday and Sunday).

Nirvana Memorial Park is open to the public to observe Qing Ming from 8am to 3pm from March 6 to April 11.

For memorial parks located in area where conditional movement control order (CMCO) is enforced, members of the public will have to make appointments in advance.

The number of visitors is restricted to a maximum of ten people for 45 minutes. Children under 12 and senior citizens above 70 will not be allowed.

Members of the public have to register with the MySejahtera app before entering the memorial park. They are also required to wear face masks and observe social distancing while at the cemetery.

Another memorial park, Xiao En Group requires members of the public to book appointment online three days ahead of the visit.

Xiao En Memorial Park in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, is open from 8am to 4pm until April 30.

Both Nirwava and Xiao En also offer prayer services for those unable to visit the memorial parks.