Sarawak CP: 572 permits approved for fireworks ahead of Raya

KUCHING (March 11): A total of 572 permits have been approved for the sale of fireworks in Sarawak ahead of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations, said State Police Commissioner Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah.

He said the Sarawak contingent received 584 applications from traders, of which 572 were approved to sell permitted fireworks such as ‘Happy Boom’ and ‘Pop Pop’.

“These permits were issued early to allow traders to start selling sooner and earn additional income in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration,” he said when met by reporters after visiting stalls and distributing goodie bags at the ‘Jalinan Kasih Ramadan PDRM Sarawak Contingent’ programme at Bazaar Ramadan Satok here.

Mohamad Zainal added that approved fireworks can also be used during other festive celebrations, including Chinese New Year and Gawai.

However, he advised both sellers and the public to use fireworks responsibly and avoid setting them off late at night.

“We advise the public not to play with fireworks until midnight as it may disturb residents, especially those living nearby,” he said.

Meanwhile, police will launch the Op Selamat road safety operation a few days before Raya to ensure smooth traffic flow and enhance road safety during the ‘balik kampung’ (return to hometown) period.

“During the previous Op Selamat operations, fatal accidents recorded a slight increase of five cases compared to the previous year.

“We advise the public travelling back to their hometowns to ensure their vehicles are properly serviced and to drive carefully,” he said.

He also encouraged those leaving their homes unattended to inform the police through the Volunteer Smartphone Patrol (VSP) application, the nearest police station, or a notification form at the station to help ensure homes remain safe during the festive season.