KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 21 (Sin Chew Daily) — No parade and only takeaway food will be sold on Wesak Day this year!

These are among the standard operating procedures (SOPs) agreed in a meeting between deputy national unity minister Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker and ten Buddhist groups in the country on this year's Wesak Day celebrations.

In an interview with Sin Chew Daily, Ti said he would be presenting the recommendations of the Buddhist groups to the National Security Council for further decision.

Ti did not reveal all the recommendations made for next month's Wesak Day celebrations.

Ven Jue Cheng, who is also the Chief Abbess of Fo Guang Shan for Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, said the groups were united and had reached a consensus on the SOPs for Wesak Day celebrations during the meeting.

She said Buddhist groups would abide by all the SOPs drafted by the government.

Ven Jue Cheng said representatives from the Buddhist groups had proposed to allow 50% of the crowd to be present at temples on Wesak Day.

However, if the COVID-19 pandemic is worsening, they agree to allow only 30 devotees inside the temple at one time, similar to what was implemented during Chinese New Year.

"We will have charity sale but only for takeaway food," she added.

Ven Jue Cheng also hoped that SOPs for Wesak Day would be released soon for temples to make the necessary arrangements.

Malaysian Buddhist Association deputy president Shi Chan Liang said he hoped all devotees would abide by the SOPs set by the government so that the Wesak Day celebrations would be held safely.

The association did not encourage dine-in on Wesak Day to avoid crowd gathering, he said.