MCC takes pride in jointly organising Christmas Parade

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Yii (seated centre) is seen during a photo call for the press conference. Tan is on his left.

MIRI: Miri City Council (MCC) takes pride in being the only local authority in Sarawak to jointly organise a Christmas Parade with local Churches.

Mayor Adam Yii said since the parade began in 2008, MCC has actively taken part unlike in other areas such as Kuching, Sibu, and Bintulu, where churches organise the parades on their own.

“This is a great affirmation given by the local government to the Association of Churches in Sarawak in Miri,” he told a press conference yesterday for the Miri City Christmas Parade 2018.

“It means that the city council recognises our role in uniting the people in Miri, especially the Christian community and even non-Christians. I’m sure that not only Christians but even non-Christians are looking forward to it.”

Yii, who is the parade joint-organising chairman, said the parade to be held on Saturday (Dec 8) is a celebration that everyone, irrespective of race and political background, should participate in.

“Therefore, the organising committee has extended the invitation to all community and political leaders, including wakil rakyat or elected representatives from both Pakatan Harapan and GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak). We welcome everyone to celebrate the festival together with the whole Christian community in Miri City,” he stressed.

He added the parade would go on even it rains like it did last year.

“We would like to spread a message to the public, which is, no matter whether there is rain or storms, just like Noah’s Ark during the great flood, the love of God will still be with us. Jesus Christ is heaven’s gift of love. He is Emmanuel. He is dwelling in our midst,” he said.

He reminded parade participants to be well-prepared and to take part with a joyful heart, adding “the main focus of the event is not the people nor the programmes, but Jesus Christ, who loves everyone of us”.

Yii also reminded participants to be punctual as the parade would start exactly at 7pm.

The 11th Miri City Christmas Parade, which is hosted by the Methodist Church, is themed ‘Heaven’s gift of love’ based on John 3:16. Some 45,000 Christians from 15 churches here are expected to participate in the parade, which is scheduled to be launched by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

It will start from the Miri City Fan and travel along several roads here before ending back at the starting point.

During the parade from 5pm, the roundabout leading to Jalan Kipas in front of Al-Taqwa Mosque, North Yu Seng Road to Jalan Kipas (junction of SK Syed Othman), and junction of Jalan Unus (road between the mosque and the Federal Complex) will be closed.

The access roads to be closed in stages are Jalan Sylvia, Jalan Brooke, Jalan Kingsway, Jalan Cina, Jalan Bendahara, Jalan North/South Yu Seng, Jalan Merpati, and Jalan Kipas/Miri City Fan.

The parade will begin with praise and worship led by the Roman Catholic, followed by the official opening during which there will be a sermon by Methodist president Rev Dr Tie King Tai, followed by speeches by co-organising chairman Rev Tan Chung Kiat, Yii, and Uggah.

After the flag-off at 7pm, there will be performances such as prophetic dance and choir singing by the various churches.

There will also be street performances along Jalan Kingsway in front of MCC, Jalan Nakhoda Gampar in front of Sin Liang Supermarket, and at Jalan Datuk Merpati – in front of Permaisuri Imperial Mall.