Annual Chingay parade in Johor to attract 40,000 visitors

JOHOR BARU: The traditional Johor Baru Chingay Parade 2017 is expected to attract 40,000 visitors, and will be held on Feb 17.
Johor Baru Selatan district police deputy chief Superintendent M. Kumar S. Muthuvellu said police personnel will be deployed to ensure the Chingay Parade goes on without any untoward incidents.
He urged all those coming for this annual Chinese New Year festival to refrain from violating the law including not bringing with them any form of weapons, firecrackers and not doing anything that is provocative.
The police and the authorities concerned will also not allow anyone to conduct businesses along the roadside, especially during the procession where devotees will take five deities from the old Johor temple at Jalan Trus through several roads downtown such as Jalan Wong Ah Fook.
The procession will stop at Xing Kong Temple near Jalan Ulu Air Molek for a night before the deities are brought back to the old Johor temple.
The annual "tour" is for the gods to bless the city with peace, prosperity and harmony.
Kumar said no drones are allowed unless the owner has a valid licence.
Motorists are urged to use alternative roads such as Jalan Skudai to go North and Johor Bahru Eastern Dispersal Link Expressway to go to Kota Tinggi and Mersing.
All roads in the city will be closed from 5pm on Feb 17 to 3am the next day.