TEMPLE managements are reducing the number of physical Chinese New Year (CNY) activities and celebrations for fear of the Omicron variant spreading.

However, several activities will still run online, temple representatives said.

The Selangor and Federal Territory Hainan Association acting president Dr Tang Chai Yoong said temples cancelled 90% of in-person activities.

“This year, Thean Hou Temple has cancelled large-scale activities involving big crowds such as the lantern festival.

“It has been (cancelled) for two consecutive years. The main concern is the rebound of the epidemic and the Omicron variant,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Tang said only one large-scale event that will continue is the CNY couplets writing activity, which will be conducted online.

“Last year, we also moved the Chinese calligraphy event online and received an overwhelming response.

“We saw a total of 800 to 1,000 participants from all over Malaysia.”

He said that although most CNY activities are cancelled, Thean Hou Temple’s doors will remain open to the public for prayers but all will be required to adhere to strict standard operating procedure (SOP).

“We will limit the number of people in the temple at each time slot according to the latest SOP that will be announced by the government.  

“We will manage this through appointments and bookings made through phone calls,” Tang said.

He also predicted that the temple will be deserted this year in comparison with previous years.

He said Thean Hou Temple would attract at least 100,000 people in the past during the CNY period.

That also meant that the temple received fewer donations in the past two years during the pandemic, Tang said.

“Our income for maintaining the temple has also decreased. But there is nothing we can do. We can only hope that next year will be better,” he said.

Another CNY attraction venue, the Dong Chan Shi Temple in Jenjarom, Selangor, loved for its huge bright lanterns, is also limiting its visitors.

Dong Chan Shi representative, Pierre Teh, said the lanterns will only be lit for nine days this year.

Usually, it would be lit for 15 days in the first lunar month.

Similar to Thean Hou Temple, the public must first fill in a registration form through an online system to enter its premises.

There is also a cap on the number of people allowed in the temple for each time slot.

“Dong Chan Shi will accommodate half of the usual number of visitors this year. Each visitor must test for Covid-19 before entering,” Teh told The Malaysian Insight.

He added that Dong Chan Shi will capture the lanterns’ atmosphere with aerial photography and virtual reality technology.

It will be shared online so those who are not able to view it physically can enjoy it all the same.

“Last year was not suitable for CNY activities, because we had not been vaccinated.

“This year, most of us have received two doses of the vaccine, but suddenly a mutant virus appeared.

“The current situation is also unclear. We can only play by ear and be prepared to adjust our plans,” Teh said.

Federation of Chinese Temples Associations Malaysia president Chong Kim Cheong said that most temples will be open for CNY celebrations in phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan.

“It’s just a matter of how large or small the (event) is, and some are carried out online and offline simultaneously.

“The online option is for some who are still afraid to visit the temples,” Chong told The Malaysian Insight.

Chong is also the Johor Chinese Temples Associations president.

He also reminded all temple visitors and worshippers to continue to follow the SOP.

And he encouraged temples to learn and make good use of technology and keep pace with the times.

He added even after the epidemic, temples can use online and offline synchronisation to expand their activities in the future. – January 12, 2022.