| Rokiah Mahmud |
THE Abode of Peace & The Lion City: A Brunei–Singapore Exhibition was launched yesterday by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore and Coordinating Minister for National Security.
The launching ceremony was held at the Art Gallery of the Dermaga Diraja Bandar Seri Begawan.
Also present at the event were Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman; Chew Poh Yim, the spouse of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar.
In her welcoming address, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, in her capacity as Chairperson of the Brunei Museums Board, explained that the exhibition marked the deep-rooted friendship and warm diplomatic ties between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore.
The six-month-long exhibition, which will run until the end of April 2018, is a memorable milestone in the history of the longstanding relationship between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore.
The permanent secretary added that the exhibition also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Currency Interchangeability Agreement which was established between the two countries on June 12, 1967.
She also explained that the leg of the exhibition held in Bandar Seri Begawan – the Asean City of Culture for the year 2016 – will showcase the links between both countries in terms of history and bilateral cooperation, and bring to life the stories of the people and culture of Singapore through stamps and philatelic materials; currency notes and coins; historical artefacts and interactive media exhibits.
“On July 5 this year, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam; and the Prime Minister of Singapore opened the Singapore leg of the exhibition at the Singapore Philatelic Museum,” said Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila. “The exhibition will run until the end of February.”
She explained that the exhibition in Singapore has attracted some 50,000 visitors since being opened.
The first gallery of the Singapore Exhibition is similar to what is being exhibited in Brunei, while the second gallery in Singapore will showcase – for the first time in Asia – the royal regalia used during His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s Istiadat Perpuspaan in 1968 and Silver Jubilee in 1992.
Visitors to the Singapore leg of the exhibition will get to experience the culture and traditions of Brunei’s seven ethnic groups, as well as the flora and fauna of Brunei through the Heart of Borneo showcase. There is also a Taste of Brunei segment, offering Singaporeans the chance to taste Brunei’s delicacies, including the ambuyat and kelupis.
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports’ (MCYS) Senandung Budaya musical group also entertained visitors during the opening weeks of the exhibition in Singapore.
“Meanwhile, the Brunei part of the exhibition here will follow a similar format but this time, the second gallery will allow Bruneian visitors to experience the culture and life of Singaporeans,” said the permanent secretary.
“Visitors will have the chance to explore Singapore and learn about life in an HBD flat, the multicultural diversity of Singapore, its green sanctuary, and life in the bustling city.
“The exhibition will be an added attraction for both local and foreign tourists visiting the Dermaga Diraja, which used to be the Royal Customs and Excise Building – a heritage landmark of Bandar Seri Begawan.”
Following the launch of the exhibition, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, alongside Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, the spouse of the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, and other members of the royal family went on to tour the exhibition.
The launching was enlivened with a musical performance by the yIN Harmony group from Singapore.
Also present at the launch were Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Minister of Finance II; Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, Minister of Development; Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism; Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, Minister of Communications; Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi, Minister of Health; Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Acting Minister of Education; Dato Paduka Awang Haji Jamain bin Haji Julaihi, Acting Minister of Energy and Industry at the PMO; Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Hamdan bin Haji Abu Bakar, Deputy Minister at the PMO; Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan bin Haji Mohamad Daud, Deputy Minister at the PMO; First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, Deputy Minister of Defence; and Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar, Deputy Minister of Development.
Brunei Darussalam and Singapore are similar in the sense that both are small countries which have been able to navigate successfully in a large and challenging world.
Besides being partners in Asean, the two countries have also worked hand-in-hand to surmount political and economic obstacles for the betterment of their people.
The Abode of Peace & The Lion City: A Brunei–Singapore Exhibition is a further marker of this brotherly alliance and will enable the peoples of Brunei and Singapore to gain a deeper appreciation of each other’s culture, history, as well as political and economic ties.
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