| Fizah HAB |
ORGANISATIONS and associations are flying the national flag in a strong show of patriotism as the Sultanate gears up for the 34th National Day celebrations in under a week.
The Village Consultative Council of Kampong Mulaut (MPK Mulaut) held a flag-hoisting ceremony at Mulaut Primary School.
MPK Mulaut members presented the national flag to the guest of honour, State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned in his capacity as advisor to the Mukim Sengkurong Consultative Council and a patron of the Takmir Committee of Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Mateen Mosque.
Sengkurong Police Station officers then hoisted the national flag, as students from the Sengkurong Sixth Form Centre and Mulaut Primary School belted out the national anthem.
Legislative Council (LegCo) member YB Pehin Orang Kaya Putera Maharaja Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Ghani bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Dewa Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Rahim, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Ustaz Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang, Brunei-Muara District Officer Misle bin Haji Abdul Karim, village heads under Mukim Sengkurong and members of Mukim Sengkurong Consultative Council attended the ceremony.
The day included a 4.7km bicycle tour – flagged off by Kampong Mulaut Village Head cum event chairperson Haji Muhammad Jait bin Haji Hitam – and a national day exhibition by Mulaut Primary School and Sengkurong Sixth Form Centre students.
Meanwhile, in Mukim Serasa, the national flag was hoisted at the residence of Mukim Serasa Penghulu Major (Rtd) Haji Johari bin Haji Abdul Razak at Jalan Meragang.
LegCo member and Village Head of Kampong Masjid Lama, Pekan Muara, Sabun and Pelumpong YB Pengiran Haji Mohamed bin Pengiran Haji Osman @ Othman was among those present.
The event commenced with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by Fizri bin Haji Johari followed by a march-past led by Warrant Officer (Rtd) Jalani bin Haji Mantal, who handed over the flag to the Mukim Serasa Penghulu, who then handed it over to the guest of honour.
The flag was then hoisted accompanied by the singing of the national anthem ‘Allah Peliharakan Sultan.’
Haji Marali bin Haji Ahmad, Village Head of Kampong Kapok and Acting Village Head of Kampong PRN Meragang, and village residents were also present.
At the Sungai Kebun Sports Complex yesterday, a flag-hoisting and distribution ceremony was held in preparation for the big day.
The ceremony commenced with a march-past by 33 members of the 13th Belia Cinta Tanah Air Programme (PBCTA) bearing the national flag, accompanied by the Police Cadet Band of the Co-Curriculum Education Department.
The flag was then handed over to the guest of honour Pengiran Haji Ayub bin Pengiran Sulaiman, the Acting Penghulu of Mukim Burong Pingai Ayer, in his capacity as the Village Head of Kampong Pandai Besi ‘A’ and ‘B’, and the Acting Village Head of Kampong Pekan Lama and Kampong Pengiran Setia Negara.
The ceremony continued with the distribution of flags to selected houses in Kampong Pandai Besi A’ and ‘B’; Kampong Pekan Lama; and Kampong Pengiran Setia Negara.
The march was intended to instil a sense of patriotism among the young participants, aged 18-30, while also promoting a sense of nationalism among the public.
PBCTA is a programme jointly organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Meanwhile, the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association (PPNBD) held a similar ceremony at its headquarters in Beribi recently.
PPNBD President Dato Paduka Haji Idris bin Haji Abas presented the national flag for scout members to hoist, accompanied by the singing of the national anthem.
The main objective of the event was to enliven the celebrations for the 34th National Day, while instilling a sense of patriotism among scout members
Also present were PPNBD Deputy President Pengiran Wahab bin Pengiran Haji Hassan, Chief Commissioner Haji Awang Badar bin Haji Awang Ali, Deputy Chief Commissioner Haji Awang Ismail bin Pehin Orang Kaya Ratna Setia Dato Paduka Haji Awang Abdul Hapidz, International Commissioner Abdul Manan bin Haji Abdul Latip, and Secretary General Haji Zainuddin bin Haji Jaafar.
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