| Lyna Mohamad |
THE Junjung Ziarah of 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 in the Temburong District witnessed various ethnic groups proudly showcasing their respective traditional customs and presenting pesambah (royal gifts) to the monarch on the occasion of His Majesty’s 70th birthday celebrations.
The ethnic Murut community in the district presented His Majesty with a ‘kelupit’, which is a flat basket made of rattan that came into use sometime around the early 1900s.
Padan bin Lasong, the Head of Cultural Section of the Ethnic Murut community in Temburong, said that although the Kelupit is no longer in use, they had one especially made as a birthday gift for His Majesty, as symbol of loyalty and devotion from the 2,000 Muruts living in the district.
The Chinese community, meanwhile, presented His Majesty with a work of calligraphic art by the students of Pai Yuek School, which read, ‘Daulat Kebawah Duli Tuan Patik Yang Ke-70.’
His Majesty receives a pesambah from the Murut community
His Majesty receives a pesambah from Pai Yuek Primary School
His Majesty cutting the birthday cake presented by the Chinese community
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 receiving a pesambah from the Iban community in Temburong
His Majesty looking at a pesambah
His Majesty autographs his portrait. – PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR
Ang Wah Bin, the Headmaster of Pai Yuek School and the Deputy Chairman of the Committee for His Majesty’s 70th birthday celebrations in Temburong District, said that two calligraphy sets had been prepared for the occasion, with one set presented to His Majesty in a special glass case. Meanwhile, the other set, bearing the autograph of His Majesty, will go on display at the Pai Yuek School as a token of remembrance for the Chinese community of Temburong.
During the Junjung Ziarah, His Majesty also consented to receive a ‘parang panjang’ (long knife) from the Iban community.
According to Roslin anak Galak, the head of the Iban Women’s Bureau, the ‘parang panjang’ is a traditional Iban handicraft, and is normally used for harvesting of paddy.
Another pesambah presented to His Majesty was a medal symbolising the Malay art of Pencak Silat, which is also a major sport for the country at local, regional and international meets.
Janudin bin Tuah, Chairman of the Brunei Darussalam Pencak Silat Federation, told the Bulletin that the medal was specially designed with the federation’s logo, for the pesambah.
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