# Alliance for Action (AFA) on Norms for Joss Paper Burning - Update on Lunar New Year Public Education Campaign - **Source:** Ministry of National Development - **Published:** 2024-05-09T04:30:00.000Z - **Author:** Ministry of National Development - **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/alliance-for-action-(afa)-on-norms-for-joss-paper-burning---update-on-lunar-new-year-public-education-campaign - **Topics:** Market Updates ## Featured rationale The decline signals improving observance of responsible burning practices and may reduce environmental disamenities for residents, supporting more pleasant conditions across affected HDB estates. ## AI summary Feedback about joss paper burning during Lunar New Year fell 25% from 761 cases in 2023 to 567 in 2024, the lowest since 2015. ## Original article ALLIANCE FOR ACTION (AFA) ON NORMS FOR JOSS PAPER BURNING - UPDATE ON LUNAR NEW YEAR PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN The Alliance for Action (AfA) on Norms for Joss Paper Burning conducted its Lunar New Year Public Education Campaign from 1 to 18 Feb 2024. This marks the AfA’s second public education campaign, since its formation in July 2022. 2 The campaign focused on clarifying misconceptions surrounding joss paper burning and promoted awareness for responsible joss paper burning practices, to better mitigate related dis-amenities. Its key messages were as follows: 1. 新年到了万象更新，齐心协力确保环境更清洁。 As we usher in the Lunar New Year, let’s accumulate merits by being considerate to our neighbourhood and the environment. 2. 接送神明拜天公，虔诚祭拜与了解初衷。不需在公共走廊焚烧金纸。 There is no need to burn joss paper along common corridors for your prayers to be received. 3. 购买大型纸制祭品前，请查看焚烧桶的尺寸是否容纳得下。祭拜后，请清理香烛祭品， 保持环境清洁。 Ensure that offerings fit into the joss paper burners provided by Town Councils before purchasing them. Please clear up your offerings after your prayers. 4. 不妨考虑到邻近庙宇进行祭拜活动。 Consider doing new year prayer rituals in temples instead of residential estates. Feedback on joss paper burning fell by 25% during Lunar New Year in 2024, an all-time low since 2015 3 Following the conclusion of the public education campaign, the Municipal Services Office (MSO) observed a 25% drop in feedback related to joss paper burning during Lunar New Year 2024, compared to 2023 figures. The volume of feedback received by Town Councils and government agencies fell from 761 cases in 2023[1] to 567 cases in 2024, an all-time low since MSO was set up in 2015. 4 Feedback related to joss paper burning has steadily declined over the course of AfA’s two Lunar New Year campaigns, seeing a 36% decrease in feedback compared to Lunar New Year 2022, which was before the formation of the AfA in July 2022. 5 The peak period for joss paper burning during Lunar New Year typically occurs on the 8th and 9th Day, which coincides with the Jade Emperor’s Birthday, i.e. 拜天公. This year, the volume of feedback received on these two days fell to 181 cases, as compared to 280 cases received in 2023. Please see Chart 1 for more details. Chart 1: Joss Paper Burning Feedback Received by Town Councils and Government Agencies During the 1st – 15th Day of Lunar New Year AfA’s public education messages widely disseminated on the ground 6 The AfA had shared its key messages via (a) posters and videos displayed at Digital Display Panels (DDPs) of HDB estates; (b) digital posters during the River Hongbao; (c) hardcopy posters displayed at Town Councils’ noticeboards; and (d) radio ads on Capital 95.8FM and Love 97.2FM. Refer to Annex A for the samples. The AfA members also shared the key messages with their own networks, which included religious goods retailers and clan associations, among others. See Annex B for the composition of the AfA. 7 The AfA, supported by MSO, had also organised a public dialogue involving about 120 residents on 1 Feb 2024, before the start of 2024 Lunar New Year. During the dialogue, the panel which comprised AfA members - Venerable Shi You Guang, Master Chung Kwang Tong, and Mr Dong Nong Zheng, and Mr Tan Kian Choon, a volunteer at various Chinese Clan associations, had conveyed the 4 key messages to the dialogue participants, and encouraged them to be considerate towards the environment and their neighbours when burning joss paper. 8 Mr Kua Soon Khe, Co-lead of the AfA, said: “The AfA’s efforts highlight the importance of observing our customs and traditional practices in a considerate and responsible manner. I would like to credit the positive results to the sustained efforts of the AfA members since its inception, as well as the cooperation from the Chinese community.” 9 Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Adviser to the AfA, said: “The AfA exemplifies how the Government can collaborate with our community partners to create a better living environment. By tapping into their expertise and strong roots in the Chinese community, the AfA has delivered concrete results in helping the public adopt socially responsible norms and habits when it comes to joss paper burning. This is an excellent example of how we can all come together to co-create solutions to benefit the community.” 10 The AfA on Norms for Joss Paper Burning is a cross-sectoral collaboration involving stakeholders from the community, businesses, and government with the goal of forging a consensus within the Chinese community on desired norms for the traditional custom of joss paper burning. Its next public education campaign will be rolled out during the 7th Lunar Month this year. For more information on the work of the AfA, please visit www.go.gov.sg/norms-josspaperburning. Issued by: Alliance for Action (AfA) on Norms for Joss Paper Burning 焚烧冥纸规范行动联盟 9 May 2024 Annexes Annex A: Public education materials during LNY 2024 Annex B: Composition of the AfA ANNEX A AFA’S PUBLIC EDUCATION MATERIALS DURING LUNAR NEW YEAR 2024 The public education materials are available for download on the AfA’s website at www.go.gov.sg/norms-josspaperburning. Poster displayed during Lunar New Year 2024 Video displayed during Lunar New Year 2024 ANNEX B COMPOSITION OF ALLIANCE FOR ACTION (AFA) ON NORMS FOR JOSS PAPER BURNING Name Designation Co-chairs Kua Soon Khe 柯孙科 Chief Executive, Singapore Buddhist Federation 《新加坡佛教总会》 Hong Poh Hin 洪宝兴 BBM Treasurer, Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations 《新加坡宗乡会馆和总会》 Chairman, Singapore Foochow Association 《新加坡福州会馆》 Chairman, Foochow Coffee Restaurant and Bar Merchants Association《福州咖啡酒餐商公会》 Members Venerable Shi You Wei 释有维法师 Abbot, Di Zang Lin 《地藏林》 Chairman of Education Committee, Singapore Buddhist Federation《新加坡佛教总会》 Venerable Shi You Guang 释有广法师 Abbot, Dong Xun Ge (Samantabhadra Vihara) 《东眴阁》 Secretary-General, Singapore Buddhist Federation《新加坡佛教总会》 Master Benjamin Tan 陈贤达道长 Leader of Prayer & Blessing Group, Special Committee Member, Taoist Federation (Singapore) 《新加坡道教总会》 Liow Kok Ann Board Member, Wat Ananda 《阿南达弥提雅拉玛泰佛寺》 Pua Luck Kheng 潘乐敬 Unit Manager, Kong Meng San Phor Kark See 《光明山普觉禅寺》 Yeo Cheong Hua 杨昌华 Chairman, Singapore Religious Goods Merchants Association 《新加坡神料同业商会》 Hoo Hung Chye 何鸿材 Executive Director, The Association of Funeral Directors Singapore 《新加坡殡葬协会》 Master Chung Kwang Tong (Wei Yi) 庄光栋（惟义）道长 President, Quan Zhen Cultural Society 《新加坡全真教化协会》 Dr Benjie Ng Ser Kwei 黄思快博士 General Secretary, Soon Thian Keing (Tua Konsi) Ltd 《顺天宫》 Dong Nong Zheng 董农政 Geomancer and Interpreter on Chinese Customs and Folk Belief Choo Chee Wee, Bernard 朱志伟 Editor, Shin Min Daily News 《新明日报》 Chua Chim Kang 蔡深江 Chief Editor, MediaCorp Chinese News & Current Affairs 《新传媒新闻》 [1] Our media factsheet released on 15 Feb 2023 previously announced that the feedback volume fell by 70%, from 886 cases during Lunar New Year in 2022 to 282 cases in 2023. This is incorrect as it was calculated based on a preliminary dataset. The correct figure should be a 14% drop in feedback volume (i.e. 761 cases in 2023). ## Chinese translation > Translation model: grok_cli ### 焚烧冥纸规范行动联盟（AfA）——农历新年公共教育宣传活动最新情况 焚烧冥纸规范 行动联盟（AfA）—— 农历新年公共教育宣传活动最新情况 焚烧冥纸规范行动联盟（AfA）于2024年2月1日至18日开展农历新年公共教育宣传活动。这是该联盟自2022年7月成立以来的第二次公共教育宣传活动。 2 本次宣传活动着重澄清有关焚烧冥纸的误解，并提高负责任焚烧冥纸做法的意识，以更好地减少相关扰民情况。其主要信息如下： 1. 新年到了万象更新，齐心协力确保环境更清洁。 As we usher in the Lunar New Year, let’s accumulate merits by being considerate to our neighbourhood and the environment. 2. 接送神明拜天公，虔诚祭拜与了解初衷。不需在公共走廊焚烧金纸。 There is no need to burn joss paper along common corridors for your prayers to be received. 3. 购买大型纸制祭品前，请查看焚烧桶的尺寸是否容纳得下。祭拜后，请清理香烛祭品， 保持环境清洁。 Ensure that offerings fit into the joss paper burners provided by Town Councils before purchasing them. Please clear up your offerings after your prayers. 4. 不妨考虑到邻近庙宇进行祭拜活动。 Consider doing new year prayer rituals in temples instead of residential estates. 2024年农历新年期间，有关焚烧冥纸的反馈减少25%，为2015年以来最低 3 公共教育宣传活动结束后，市政服务署（MSO）观察到，与2023年数据相比，2024年农历新年期间有关焚烧冥纸的反馈减少了25%。市镇会及政府机构收到的反馈量从2023年的761宗[1]降至2024年的567宗，为市政服务署自2015年成立以来的历史最低。 4 在行动联盟两轮农历新年宣传活动期间，有关焚烧冥纸的反馈持续下降；与行动联盟于2022年7月成立前的2022年农历新年相比，反馈减少了36%。 5 农历新年期间焚烧冥纸的高峰期通常出现在初八与初九，即拜天公（玉皇大帝诞辰）之时。今年这两天收到的反馈量为181宗，而2023年则为280宗。详情请见图表1。 图表1：农历新年初一至十五市镇会及政府机构收到的焚烧冥纸相关反馈 行动联盟的公共教育信息在基层广泛传播 6 行动联盟通过以下渠道分享主要信息：（a）在组屋区数字显示屏（DDP）上展示海报与视频；（b）在春到河畔期间展示数字海报；（c）在市镇会布告栏张贴纸质海报；以及（d）在Capital 95.8FM与Love 97.2FM播放电台广告。样本见附件A。行动联盟成员亦向各自网络分享主要信息，包括神料零售商与宗乡会馆等。行动联盟组成见附件B。 7 在市政服务署支持下，行动联盟亦于2024年2月1日、即2024年农历新年开始前，举办了一场约有120名居民参与的公共对话会。对话会期间，由行动联盟成员——释有广法师、庄光栋道长、董农政先生，以及多个华族宗乡会馆义工陈建春先生——组成的小组，向与会者传达了四项主要信息，并鼓励他们在焚烧冥纸时顾及环境与邻里。 8 行动联盟联合负责人柯孙科先生表示：“行动联盟的工作凸显了以体谅与负责任的方式遵守习俗与传统做法的重要性。我要把积极成果归功于行动联盟成员自成立以来的持续努力，以及华社的配合。” 9 国家发展部高级政务部长、行动联盟顾问沈颖女士表示：“行动联盟体现了政府如何与社区伙伴合作，共建更佳居住环境。通过借助他们的专业知识及在华社的深厚根基，行动联盟在帮助公众在焚烧冥纸方面采纳具有社会责任感的规范与习惯上取得了具体成果。这是我们齐心协力、共同创造惠及社区的解决方案的绝佳范例。” 10 焚烧冥纸规范行动联盟是一项跨领域协作，汇集社区、企业与政府持份者，目标是在华社内就焚烧冥纸这一传统习俗的理想规范凝聚共识。其下一轮公共教育宣传活动将于今年农历七月展开。欲了解更多行动联盟工作资讯，请浏览 www.go.gov.sg/norms-josspaperburning。 发布机构： 焚烧冥纸规范行动联盟 焚烧冥纸规范行动联盟 2024年5月9日 附件 附件A：2024年农历新年公共教育材料 附件B：行动联盟组成 附件A 行动联盟2024年农历新年公共教育材料 公共教育材料可于行动联盟网站 www.go.gov.sg/norms-josspaperburning 下载。 2024年农历新年展示的海报 2024年农历新年展示的视频 附件B 焚烧冥纸规范行动联盟 组成 姓名 职务 联合主席 Kua Soon Khe 柯孙科 新加坡佛教总会首席执行官《新加坡佛教总会》 Hong Poh Hin 洪宝兴 BBM 新加坡宗乡会馆联合总会财政《新加坡宗乡会馆和总会》 新加坡福州会馆主席《新加坡福州会馆》 福州咖啡酒餐商公会主席《福州咖啡酒餐商公会》 成员 Venerable Shi You Wei 释有维法师 地藏林住持《地藏林》 新加坡佛教总会教育委员会主席《新加坡佛教总会》 Venerable Shi You Guang 释有广法师 东眴阁住持《东眴阁》 新加坡佛教总会秘书长《新加坡佛教总会》 Master Benjamin Tan 陈贤达道长 新加坡道教总会祈福组负责人、特别委员《新加坡道教总会》 Liow Kok Ann 阿南达弥提雅拉玛泰佛寺董事《阿南达弥提雅拉玛泰佛寺》 Pua Luck Kheng 潘乐敬 光明山普觉禅寺部门经理《光明山普觉禅寺》 Yeo Cheong Hua 杨昌华 新加坡神料同业商会主席《新加坡神料同业商会》 Hoo Hung Chye 何鸿材 新加坡殡葬协会执行董事《新加坡殡葬协会》 Master Chung Kwang Tong (Wei Yi) 庄光栋（惟义）道长 新加坡全真教化协会会长《新加坡全真教化协会》 Dr Benjie Ng Ser Kwei 黄思快博士 顺天宫总务《顺天宫》 Dong Nong Zheng 董农政 风水师及华族习俗与民间信仰讲解者 Choo Chee Wee, Bernard 朱志伟 新明日报编辑《新明日报》 Chua Chim Kang 蔡深江 新传媒华文新闻与时事总编辑《新传媒新闻》 [1] 我们于2023年2月15日发布的媒体资料先前公布，反馈量下降了70%，从2022年农历新年的886宗降至2023年的282宗。该数据有误，因其基于初步数据集计算。正确数字应为反馈量下降14%（即2023年为761宗）。