Uggah to officiate City Christmas Parade 2022 on Saturday

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas is scheduled to officiate at the Miri City Christmas Parade 2022 this Saturday (Dec 3).

The Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) chairman will be representing Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, said parade committee co-chairman Reverend Father Vincent Shim from the Roman Catholic Church.

“We expect to invite the Premier to be our guest of honour. But at the very last moment, we were informed that he will be represented by Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah,” he told a press conference here Tuesday.

This year is the 13th year of the Miri City Christmas Parade and will be headed by the Roman Catholic Church in collaboration with 16 other churches.

Other participating churches are Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM), Anglican Church, Methodist Church, Calvary Charismatic Center, New Creation Church, Christ the Livingstone, Seventh Day Adventist, Full Gospel Assembly, Miri Gospel Chapel, All Nations Gospel Church, Full Gospel Tabernacle, Baptist Church, Glory Place, Open Heaven Tabernacle, Miri Latter Rain Church and Cornerstone Community Church.

The parade for the celebration themed at ‘Jesus, Joy of Christmas’ will start from Miri City Fan at 5pm and will pass through Jalan Sylvia, Jalan Brooke, Jalan Kingsway, Jalan Puchong, Jalan Padang, Jalan Melayu, Jalan Nahkoda Gampar, Jalan Cina, Jalan Bendahara, Jalan North Yu Seng, Jalan South Yu Seng, Jalan Merpati, Jalan Kipas and back to Miri City Fan.

Road closures will start at 5pm onwards at the abovementioned roads.

Shim said the event programme will include praise and worship as well as singing and dance performances from various churches.

He added the parade, which is making a comeback this year after not being held for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is targeting some 40,000 participants including from outside Miri.

“We would like to invite everyone to join us, not just in walking together but also to give support by waving at the participants by the sidewalk.

“We hope to encourage everyone to remember that Miri city has always been a great city to live in, a city full of harmony and a city full of very colourful events and people,” he added.