.png)
MORE than 40,000 people from various backgrounds took to the streets as part of the Miri Christmas Parade 2024 last night.
Organised by the Miri City Council and 17 Christian churches in Miri, the event saw colourful and joyous participants parading a 10 km route through the city centre.
The parade started from the Miri Fan Recreation Park where a concert was also staged.
The parade has been an annual event in Miri since 2005 until it was halted from 2020 to 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In his speech before the parade, Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said Sarawak will continue to uphold its strong multiracial and multireligious way of life.
"We will continue to emphasise people of all races and religions equally.
"We will provide funds for them to facilitate their developments," he said in his text read by deputy premier Datuk Douglas Uggah.
Miri Mayor Adam Yii said the estimated turnout for the parade was about 40,000.
The crowd included non-Christians who also took part with their families and walked the streets in a show of unity, he said.
Aside from the parishioners of the churches, school bands and youth groups also took part in singing Christmas carols and playing musical instruments during the parade.