Manyin (centre) and mayor Lai joined by other invited guests touching the crystal ball to light up the Christmas tree and launch the annual Miri Christmas Parade.
Getting the message of Christ across through their banners.
MIRI: Christians were called on to discard their political and religious differences and to work together harmoniously in peace for the development and progress of the state and country.
Addressing the crowd of over 30,000 at Miri City Fan prior to the annual Christmas Parade, Infrastructure Development and Communication Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong said: “Christmas is always something to do with love and peace and because of this… we should hope and pray for the peace and harmony of the state and country.”
Jointly organised by Miri City Council (MCC) and 15 churches in Miri, for the first time ever this year, leaders from the opposition parties, Miri MP Dr Michael Teo (PKR) and Piasau assemblyman Alan Ling (Democratic Action Party), were invited to join the launching of the parade.
Also present were Assistant Minister of Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin, organising chairman Pastor Semilee Tajau and the Bishop of Catholic Church Rt Rev Richard Ng.
Commanding the organiser, Manyin who was representing Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, quoted John 13:34 – ‘I give you a new command: love one another as I just have loved you, you must also love another’.
“Christmas carries the message of hope, love and peace. That is why it has no boundary and this is why we even have the opposition leaders to join us in the celebration. All of us here are coming with one heart and one mind and to share and spread the message of love, peace and harmony for betterment of the country and the people,” said Manyin.
He said it is important for the people to be united and discard their religious, racial and political differences as these are the major cause of turmoil and conflicts in the world.
“All of us here are trying to share love with each other irrespective of which domination we come from, whether it is the Catholic, Anglican, SDA, SIB, Methodist and other religion and belief. Problems in the world often caused by religion, racial and political differences,” he added.
“There is hope in this world despite all of our differences. There is still love among us. As the theme said that God is with Us. God is always helping us and trying to help us. God doesn’t want to help anybody who doesn’t help himself,” said Manyin.