MIRI, Dec 2: Armed with umbrellas and raincoats, over 40,000 braved the rain for tonight’s 14th Miri Christmas Parade at Dataran Kipas Miri.
Sarawak Transport Minister cum Senadin assemblyman, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, representing Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, officiated at the event.
During the event, Abang Johari, whose speech was read by Lee, assured that the Sarawak government would continue to support nurturing healthy religious beliefs, education, and activities.
Abang Johari expressed confidence that through the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) and the Sarawak government’s policies, the State will showcase progress, prosperity, and peace to Malaysia and the region.
“Christmas is about peace, which should remind us that we cannot afford to be complacent but continue to work hard to preserve, safeguard, and enhance peace and harmony among our multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-religious groups.
“We reject all expressions of extremist ideologies that put down other people who are ‘different’ from us,” Abang Johari pointed out.
This year’s theme is ‘Jesus Christ, Our True Peace’, which saw 14 churches in Miri taking part in the event, namely the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM), Methodist Church, Baptist Church, Calvary Charismatic Centre, Seventh Day Adventist, Agape Kingdom Church, Open Heaven 611 Bread of Life, Persatuan Penganut Kristian Injil Malaysia (PPKIM), Cornerstone Community Church, New Generation Church, and Bethany Church of Malaysia (BCM).
The parade kicked off at 7.30pm passing through Jalan Sylvia to Jalan Brooke, Jalan Kingsway, Jalan Puchong, Jalan Padang, Jalan Melayu, Jalan Nahkhoda Gampar, Jalan Cina, Jalan Bendahara, Jalan North Yu Seng, Jalan South Yu Seng, Jalan Merpati, Jalan Kipas and back to Dataran Kipas Miri.
Twelve floats accompanied the contingents along the parade route around Miri City this year, followed by various Christmas concerts staged by the participating churches.
Deputy Minister for Local Government Sarawak Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk Gerawat Gala, Pujut assemblyman cum Miri Mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang, and organising chairman Pastor Lim Thien Leong were present. — DayakDaily
