MUAR: The Muar Ching Giap See Temple, one of the biggest Buddhist temples in Johor, has imposed several new rulings with immediate effect.
Its chairman Venerable Chan Liang said one of the rulings disallowed visitors, tourists and devotees who come to the temple from wearing shorts, short skirts or revealing outfits.
This, he said, served to uphold respect and decency.
Chan said as the temple has become smoky due to the burning of incense and because of the current hot weather conditions, steps have been taken to reduce air pollution and ensure the environment in the temple is clean and hygienic by imposing only one stick of incense for each devotee.
He said the temple has become a tourist draw for people from all over Malaysia, Singapore and other Asean countries.
"Smoking is also strictly prohibited," he said.
Chan said the use of butter lamps and lotus candles are allowed, but added that drip candles are prohibited.
He said no meat, including seafood and poultry, was allowed in the vegetarian offerings.
Chan said air pollution was unhealthy to those praying in the temple including monks, nuns and staff.
The staff, he said, had begun an awareness campaign advising the visitors, tourists and devotees not to light up more than one stick of incense at a time.
"We tell them that it is not the number of incense sticks they burn that counts, but the purity of hearts."
Nevertheless, the temple would not turn away any visitors, tourists or devotees if he or she insisted on burning a stack of incense sticks.
He said it was a normal practice that a devotee burnt three sticks of incense each time.
"We hope devotees will change their mindset and adhere to the new rulings for the welfare of themselves and others," said Chan.