| Wani Roslan |
IT WAS certainly a golden opportunity for thousands of Brunei-Muara residents who gathered at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien yesterday to meet 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 up close and personally deliver messages of goodwill, during the get-together ceremony for the monarch’s 72nd birthday celebrations.
Among the well-wishers attending the highly-anticipated event was Assistant Deputy President of the Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) Haji Morni bin Haji Damit who noted that the society’s involvement at the event was part of its annual activities and commitment to serve and provide medical services for the public.
“We are thankful to be given this opportunity to meet and greet His Majesty and we are most certainly thankful for the Sultan’s leadership and concern for the wellbeing of his countrymen,” he said.
A former Royal Brunei Armed Forces officer, StaTff Sergeant (Rtd) Haji Umar bin Haji Sarudin from Ex-Army Association Brunei Darussalam, expressed his excitement and gratitude at being able to be part of the ceremony this year to personally meet His Majesty.
He added, “Up to 30 to 40 former army staff from the Brunei-Muara District are attending the ceremony to convey birthday greetings to His Majesty.”
Meanwhile, Hajah Sakinah binti Haji Mohd Nor, a scout leader at the Sports School and assistant commissioner of the Brunei-Muara District Scouts Association (PPDBM), shared that more than 100 scout members attended and participated in the ceremony.
“The number of scout members throughout the country is increasing and currently there are over 1,000 scout members throughout the country who are actively participating in activities and programmes such as this,” she said.
Another well-wisher and Bisaya ethnic group representative, Eirn bin Kisar, decked in traditional Bisaya ethnic group garb, similarly expressed his excitement at being involved in the ceremony, adding that he was “thankful for the opportunity to meet-and-greet the monarch personally”.