JOHOR BARU: Police will deploy more than 2,000 policemen for the coming Johor Baru Chingay Festival 2015 in the city centre here starting from March 9 to 12.
For this year, the peak of the festival will see March 11 being an important day where more than 350,000 people are expected to flock the city centre to witness the annual event which will take place from 3pm onwards.
Johor Baru Selatan police chief Assistant Commissioner Sulaiman Salleh said police are well prepared for the four-day occasion which will see part of the city centre's main roads closed.
“The policemen will be made-up of police personnel from all units, as well as senior police officers, from all units on duty during that period. We will also prioritise March 11 as the procession will take place during that time,” he said after a meeting with the state's Chinese association and also the Johor Baru Municipal Council (MBJB) representatives at the Johor Baru Selatan district police headquarters here today.
Sulaiman, who is the ground commander for the festival, assured the public that police have mapped out and identified 11 sectors along the Chingay route this year.
Starting March 11 on the main day of the procession, police will cordon off by stages from 3pm onwards Jalan Skudai-Lido Beach (fronting Dataran Bandaraya), Jalan Ayer Molek,Jalan Sungai Chat-Jalan Abu Bakar, Jalan Ayer Molek-Gertak Merah, Jalan Datuk Onn-Jalan Ayer Molek, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Jalan Meldrum, Jalan Siu Nam, Jalan Siu Chin, the U-Turn to Jalan Sri Lanang, Jalan station, Jalan Abu Bakar and the inner ring road towards Jalan Abu Bakar.
Sulaiman advised motorists to adhere to police instructions and take alternate routes to their destination.
