SINGAPORE – Fewer people are burning joss paper indiscriminately, going by latest figures from the Ministry of National Development (MND).
The volume of public feedback on indiscriminate burning of joss paper has fallen by 31 per cent during the seventh lunar month to an all-time low in 2024, as compared to 2021 before the public education campaign by the Alliance for Action (AfA) on Norms for Joss Paper Burning.
The seventh lunar month is when burnt offerings are made to the deceased to observe the Hungry Ghost Festival.
For the Chinese New Year period, the feedback volume has also dropped – by 23 per cent in 2025, as compared to 2022 before AfA’s public education campaign.
With this, it is mission accomplished for the Afa, which will wrap up three years after it was set up in July 2022 to educate the public on responsible joss paper burning.
The group is supported by the Municipal Services Office (MSO) as its secretariat.
Announcing this at a media briefing on March 14, Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for National Development and adviser of the AfA, said: “Over the past three years, we have gone through three cycles of public education for each of the two peak periods of joss paper burning – the seventh lunar month and the Chinese New Year.
“We are very glad to see that the modified public education campaigns guided by the AfA has shown effect.”
The turning point came when the AfA characterised joss paper burning as a customary practice, instead of a religious requirement, said Ms Sim. It brought in cultural experts who advised the public on how to modify their practices to ensure harmonious living in the neighbourhood.
Ms Sim added that the jingles on radio, advertisements on digital display panels in housing board flats, wobblers next to joss paper products at supermarkets, getai shows, and public dialogues have helped to educate the public on responsible joss paper burning.
Going forward, the National Environment Agency will carry on with the public education campaign that has been developed and shaped by the AfA.
Members of the AfA, comprising representatives from more than 10 Chinese religious, cultural and industry associations, will still be tapped on for their expertise when there is a need. They include those from the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, Singapore Religious Goods Merchants Association and Taoist Federation Singapore.
Mr Kua Soon Khe, chief executive of the Singapore Buddhist Federation, who co-led the AfA, said the Afa’s key message is to be considerate towards the environment and neighbours when burning offerings.
It also urged devotees to burn smaller quantities at a time to ensure complete combustion and to reduce smoke and ashes. They should not throw the whole stack of joss paper into the burner or toss them in the air. They are also to clear all the prayer items and offerings at public places after the ritual to keep the environment clean.
“We wanted to convey the message that while we can preserve customary practices, they can evolve with the times, such as how many have simplified funeral rituals now compared to the past,” he said.
Mr Kua had expected the Afa to take three to five years to see results.
“This shows that given the right public education, Singaporeans can accept changes,” he said.
Asked if the AfA will have to regroup if there are more complaints in future, Ms Sim said MSO will continue to monitor the feedback. If there is any deterioration in the situation, it will pick it up quickly to see what has to be done.
“If we should see a resurgence of feedback, we would need to analyse the reasons, and see if there is any element of the public education that requires reinforcement, or whether there are some other changes going on,” she said. “We’re not going to take our eyes off the ball.”
- Chin Soo Fang is senior correspondent at The Straits Times covering topics such as community, politics, social issues, consumer, culture and heritage.
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